Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticized countries like the U.S. for ignoring the environmental impact of shale oil and natural gas production, describing it as a “barbaric” process the Kremlin won’t pursue, CNBC reports.
Speaking at a business conference in Moscow Wednesday, Putin said: “Today’s technology of shale oil production and shale gas are without any doubt … barbaric,” CNBC reported, Kallanish Energy understands.
“These technologies destroy the environment,” he explained via a translation, before adding the areas affected by the extraction process were typically left in a “precarious situation.”
“In spite of all of the economic benefits, we do not need it and we will never do this,” Putin said.
The U.S. Department of Energy was not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC Wednesday. Output increases in the Permian Basin of Texas/southeast New Mexico, the Bakken in Montana and North Dakota, as well as other basins/plays, have helped the U.S. become the world’s largest oil producer.
Fracking proponents say the process vastly expands natural gas supply and cuts costs for consumers. But critics of the process have pointed to the process’ alleged negative environmental impacts.
