Britain 's government lifted its ban on a controversial mining process known as hydraulic fracturing , or fracking , Thursday , allowing companies to continue their exploration of shale gas reserves . Energy Secretary Edward Davey said the decision was subject to new controls to limit the risks of seismic activity . A halt was called to fracking last year after two small earthquakes in Lancashire , northwestern England , where Cuadrilla Resources was exploring for shale gas . The process involves pumping millions of gallons of water and chemicals into shale formations deep beneath the Earth 's surface , causing the fracturing of the rock and the release of natural gas . It has proved controversial in the United States , where supporters say it provides cheap energy but critics are concerned about the potential for chemicals to seep into the drinking water supply . The new controls imposed by the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change include a requirement to carry out a seismic survey before work starts . Firms involved must also draw up a plan showing how the seismic risks will be limited , and monitor seismic activity before , during and after the exploration . Cuadrilla Resources said Thursday 's decision to allow fracking to resume marked a significant step for Britain 's future onshore gas industry . `` Today 's news is a turning point for the country 's energy future . Shale gas has the potential to create jobs , generate tax revenues , reduce our reliance on imported gas , and improve our balance of payments , '' chief executive Francis Egan said in a statement . In an interview with CNN , Egan insisted that fracking could be done `` safely and sensibly '' in Britain and that there are huge reserves to be exploited . The company believes there is about 200 trillion cubic feet of gas under the ground just within its license area in Lancashire . To put that figure into context , the United Kingdom uses about 3 trillion cubic feet of gas a year , Egan said . He said he could understand that people are concerned but pointed out that the two tremors triggered in April and May of last year `` were not major events . '' The website of the British Geological Survey shows it has recorded nine tremors of a similar magnitude in the past two months , he said . `` They are not life-threatening events or damage-inducing events , but they do cause concern , so as a consequence the fracking was suspended , '' he said . Cuadrilla has done a lot of work since then , he said , including carrying out 3-D mapping of the area . Extensive arrays will be installed around the wells to monitor seismic activity , he added . As for concerns about how the liquids used in fracking will affect water supplies , Egan said the company uses only one friction-reducing chemical , in small quantities . He said it is not hazardous and the government oversees its use . The strong regulatory environment in the United Kingdom `` will stand us in good stead , '' Egan said , although he acknowledged it would mean the pace of exploration may be slower than in the United States . The process has sparked opposition in the United Kingdom . The government announcement marks `` the start of a major battle over what sort of world we will leave to our children , '' said Lilly Morse , an activist with the Frack Off campaign group . `` The government and industry 's promises of cheap , abundant gas are deluded , '' she said , adding that in the United States , `` the gas bubble has already burst '' and some fracking companies are on the verge of bankruptcy . `` The government 's strategy of relying on fracking to fuel a new wave of gas-fired power stations is utterly insane . Fracking is dirty , destructive and extremely expensive , and could never deliver the quantities of gas envisaged . ''
Fracking can be done `` safely and sensibly , '' the chief executive of Cuadrilla says . Measures must be put in place to limit the risk of triggering earthquakes , government says . Fracking was halted last year after it caused two small tremors in northwestern England . Opponents : It 's a dirty process , and promises of cheap , abundant gas are `` deluded ''