Germany’s cabinet approved draft legislation on Wednesday effectively banning shale gas fracking for at least five years despite growing concern along business and western allies that the country is too reliant on gas imports from Russia. “As long as risks are unaccountable or currently can’t be conclusively assessed, fracking will remain forbidden,” Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks said, alluding to concerns that the exploration technique could pollute groundwater. Germany’s draft law bans the use of hydraulic fracturing technology for drilling operations shallower than 3,000 meters, and all types of fracking in nature reserves and national parks. Test drilling for fracking, which involves using a high-pressure mixture of water, sand and chemicals to break apart rocks to release shale gas, will be allowed in certain cases for scientific research however, according to the […]