(Jun. 4) – “On the proposal of the Spanish delegation, the European Federation of Geologists has decided to set up a establish a European working group, open to associations of American geologists, to address the sensitive issue of franking, the hydraulic fracturing of rocks to improve the production of oil or shale gas contained in a vein and to increase the recovery percentage”. This was announced by Gian Vito Graziano, president of the National Council of Geologists, at the General Assembly of the European Federation at Skansen, near Stockholm. “There are several concerns about this technique of exploitation – continued Graziano – which, however, represents a major form of energy production. It is therefore important that all national associations of geologists collaborate each other to bring to the table working experience in their own countries”. The Spanish proposal was welcomed by the Italian delegation, represented by Graziano and Corrado Cencetti Corrado, who pointed out that the National Council of Geologists has already formed a committee of experts in Italy on the topic of gas storage and industrial drilling in seismically areas active”. “The ability of the Italian and European geological community – said Graziano – to reason about such delicate and strategic topics for the development constitutes an ethical array of the category. These experiences between the geologists of our continent should come together in a European geo-ethic code”. (Peg)
