28 July 2014 Last updated at 01:43
Fracking licences to be granted by government
The bidding process for licences to extract shale gas - using the controversial process fracking - begins later, the government has announced.
About half the UK is open to exploration, but tightened rules cover areas of outstanding beauty.
Companies granted a licence to begin test drilling will also need planning permission and environmental permits.
The coalition sees shale gas as a major potential energy source. Critics of fracking warn of environmental dangers.
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About half the UK is open for licensing, including parts of National Parks. But applications there will only be accepted in "exceptional circumstances and in the public interest", said the government. The same rules apply for the Broads, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and World Heritage Sites.
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Critics of fracking argue that it can lead to earth tremors, water contamination and disruption to rural communities. There are also concerns about methane leakage and diverting resources away from renewable energy.
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The government is keen to promote fracking in the UK, and has already announced a number of incentives to help kick-start the industry, including tax breaks, payments of £100,000 per site plus a 1% share of revenue to local communities.
It has also proposed new rules regarding rights to access land to speed up drilling.
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In the US, shale gas has seen energy costs tumble, but questions remain about whether the American shale revolution can be replicated in the UK and elsewhere.
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Source - BBC - here.
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