The Independent: Fracking could bring UK 50,000 jobs, says Browne

Lord Browne, the former BP chief executive, said Lancashire has the potential to be the capital of Europe's emerging shale gas industry, in a scenario he predicted could help to create as many as 50,000 jobs across the UK.

Now a director of the shale gas "fracking" company Cuadrilla, Lord Browne said Lancashire had the potential to do for the fledgling hydrocarbon industry what Aberdeen has done for the oil sector. Technically known as hydraulic fracturing, fracking is the process used to dislodge natural gas from shale by blasting a mixture of sand, water and chemicals into the rock.

"My own view is that Lancashire has huge potential ... If they had the will they could perhaps become the centre of shale gas for Europe, much as Aberdeen became the centre of oil and gas for Europe. It is not inconceivable," Lord Browne told The Independent.  MORE