‘Shale gas, a threat to Belgium’

Published on 11 February 2013 at 10:47

Cover

"Will shale gas poison Belgian competiveness in the years to come?" wonders the Belgian daily. The emergence of shale gas, especially in the United States, coupled with a decline in European demand, has lowered the cost of gas.
This, in turn, has led to a fall in the price of coal. As a result, European utility companies are switching from gas to coal – a more polluting energy – to produce electricity. Add to that the drop in the price of carbon credits in Europe, which have plummeted from a 2008 high of €35 for a tonne of carbon dioxide to under €5 a few weeks ago, "it now costs nothing to pollute," Le Soir concludes.

Tags

Was this article useful? If so we are delighted!

It is freely available because we believe that the right to free and independent information is essential for democracy. But this right is not guaranteed forever, and independence comes at a cost. We need your support in order to continue publishing independent, multilingual news for all Europeans.

Discover our subscription offers and their exclusive benefits and become a member of our community now!

Are you a news organisation, a business, an association or a foundation? Check out our bespoke editorial and translation services.

Support independent European journalism

European democracy needs independent media. Join our community!

On the same topic