2/19/2013: Ohio State University to host shale seminar; German fracking debate intensifies

OSU holds shale seminar to educate land owners - "Ohio State University and Mahoning County are hosting a workshop Saturday to educate landowners about the development of Ohio's shale resources. Educators and specialists from community outreach program OSU Extension will speak on leasing issues, taxation, wealth management, water testing and pipelines. "Shale and You: A Workshop for landowners" will be held in Canfield, about 10 miles southwest of Youngstown." (Colombus Morning Call)

 

German fracking debate could cost country billions in shale oil - Opposition from Germany's powerful environmental lobby is dimming prospects for shale gas and sparking fears that major industries in Europe's largest economy will lose out to U.S. rivals tapping cheaper energy. Those fears are piling pressure on German Chancellor Angela Merkel from both sides of the debate ahead of an election in September. "If we immediately reject this, we will end up as international laggards," BDI chief Ulrich Grillo said this month regarding shale gas. Industry's voice counts in Germany, where manufacturing accounts for at least 25 percent of the economy, with top employers that include BASF, Bayer as well as the steel and heavy engineering sectors. Germany plans not only more renewable energy from wind and solar, but the phasing out of nuclear by 2022 and a swing away from polluting coal to cleaner natural gas. (Reuters)

 

Turkey's shale hopes draw interest - Turkey is hoping to find shale gas reserves big enough to help reduce its energy import dependency and is in talks with foreign firms about widening exploration after encouraging early signs, industry officials said on Monday.The government is hoping that major shale gas reserves lie in basins in its southeast, east and western Thrace regions and officials say several firms, including smaller players already looking for conventional oil and gas, are keen to explore."We are keen to exploit this method and we must make economic use of shale gas," Energy Minister Taner Yildiz told Reuters, saying it would be a priority for the near future.