One look at the map showing tectonic plates around the south of Cyprus makes you wonder why anyone is crazy enough to think of extracting gas in an earthquake zone. Obviously the environmental impact of escaping gas would not be the same as it would be if these were oil wells, however there is some controversy over whether certain extraction practices may actual cause earthquakes. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is reported as saying that “earthquakes induced by human activity have been documented in a few locations” in the United States, Japan, and Canada. These methods are called Hydraulic fracturing. It is not clear what methods will be used to extract the gas, if there is any, but it often seems that the environment is a secondary consideration when it comes to the rush for energy products.
Oh, and there are rumours that the Russian €2.5bn loan to the south may not be unrelated to their desire to get involved in EU energy resources.
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