'UK will run out of gas without shale development'
The government has given the go-ahead for a firm to resume the controversial technique known as fracking to exploit gas in Lancashire.
Conditions have been imposed to minimise the risk of seismic activity.
Fracking involves creating little explosions underground, then injecting water and chemicals to release gas trapped in cavities in shale rocks.
The firm, Cuadrilla, was stopped from fracking after two small earthquakes.
Cuadrilla chief executive Francis Egan told the BBC's John Moylan that shale gas can make a significant contribution to the UK's energy supplies.
13 Dec 2012