Investments in shale gas drilling could yield an industry worth nearly £4bn a year to the UK economy and create more than 70,000 jobs, according to a new report from the Institute of Directors (IoD), becoming a “new North Sea” energy business in the process.
(Source: The Guardian, 22 May, http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/may/22/shale-gas-investments-uk-economy)
However, concerns remain over environmental risks over pollution and seismic activity which SMiâs 4th Shale Gas Environmental Summit focusses on with key presentations addressing:    â¢Â     The myths from the facts surrounding pollution and seismic activity    â¢Â     How to navigate the regulatory landscape currently in place and the evolution of policy for better legislation    â¢Â     Evaluate the technology advances in environmentally sustainable hydraulic fracturing solutions    â¢Â     Public-private awareness & engagement initiatives    â¢Â     Discuss environmental risk management    â¢Â     The reality of shale gas as an economically viable alternative to meet the UK and Europeâs increasing energy
Expert Speaker Panel includes:    â¢Â     Keisuke Sadamori, Director, Energy Markets and Security, IEA    â¢Â     Scott Foster, Director of Sustainable Energy Division, UN Economic Commission for Europe    â¢Â     David Kennedy, Chief Executive, Committee on Climate Change    â¢Â     Kevin Skipworth, CVO, Agent General, Government of Western Australia    â¢Â     Vanessa Harvard Williams, Partner and Global Head of Environment and Climate Change Team, Linklaters    â¢Â     Rob Foulkes, Senior Associate, Critical Resource    â¢Â     Corin Taylor, Senior Economic Advisor, Institute of Directors    â¢Â     Dr Marco Althaus, Professor of Social Sciences, Wildau Technical University    â¢Â     Jake White, Lawyer, Friends of the Earth Alternatively, contact Darryl Moxon on +44 (0) 20 7827 6066 or email dmoxon(at)smi-online(dot)co.uk