A new office within the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has been formed to oversee the exploitation of shale gas by fracking and other types of unconventional oil and gas exploitation in the UK.

The announcement coincides with the launch of new controls on fracking. The only exploratory drilling operation for shale gas in the UK has been on hold after the triggering of seismic incidents by fracking activities last year.

Following reports on those incidents the new controls require:

- A prior review of seismic risk and the existence of faults before fracking begins

- A fracking plan showing how seismic risks will be addressed

- Seismic monitoring before, during and after fracking

- Requirements for fracking to cease in the event seismic activity of certain categories occurs

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