A protest group against fracking, the extraction of gas by pumping water and chemicals underground, was formed following a public information meeting in Calasparra last week.
The group, ‘Cuenca del Segura Libre de Fracking’ (The Segura Basin Free of Fracking) believes the process presents a new threat to natural underground water supplies, our health and our future.
The Platform is calling on the regional government and central Government to prohibit the technique in the Segura Basin and revoke the permissions issued.
During the next few weeks a webpage will be created to provide more information and to enable readers to join the protest platform.
Groups and organisations which support the protest include
Foro Social Calasparra, Asociación Caralluma, Unión de Pequeños Agricultores de la Región de Murcia, Unión de Pequeños Agricultores de Hellín, Ecologistas en Acción Región de Murcia, Ecologistas en Acción de Cieza, Santomera, Valle de Ricote and Murcia.
The protest started when it became known that various permissions for the investigation of hydrocarbonates in the Segura Basin had been conceded for the extraction of gas using the dangerous and environmentally controversial method, fracking.
This technique consists of making a vertical hole hundreds or thousands of metres long which reaches the rock layer from where the gas is extracted. At this point the perforation becomes horizontal and explosives are used to break the rock layer. A mixture of water, and tens of very toxic chemical products are then injected. A variable quantity of this mixture is recovered and the gas is liberated from the rock.
Although the procedure is relatively new in Europe it has been used for many years in the United States where it has raised concerns about the environment and public health.
The alleged risks of fracking include the contamination of subterrenean water and superficial earthquakes induced by the injections. This represents a grave risk in an area such as the Segura Basin which already has seismic activity. It also contaminates the earth and the air, according to protesters. Moreover, the process produces large quantities of dangerous residues including radioactive material and heavy metals.
