Shale gas protests continue, SWN Resources suspends operations

Shale gas opponents are hailing the August 19th announcement that SWN Resources will be suspending operations until next year as one victory in a larger battle to stop shale gas exploration and extraction permanently in the province of New Brunswick.

Shale gas protests continued August 18th in Taymouth and Fredericton.

About 50 Taymouth and Stanley residents delayed SWN Resources’ seismic testing trucks from passing on the English Settlement Road in Taymouth this morning.

SWN Resources told media that they could not do any seismic testing because of damaged geophone equipment.

Shale gas opponents say they will continue their protests until the government of New Brunswick intervenes and either puts in place a moratorium or ban on shale gas. SWN Resources says they will continue their work on their licenses. The gas licenses were granted by the former Liberal government.

In the capital, protesters gathered in front of the Centennial Building where the Premier’s office is located. Premier David Alward met with the protesters briefly just after 1:00pm. Some protesters expressed their concerns to the Premier.
Denis Landry, the Liberal Opposition Critic for Natural Resources and the Environment, stood with the protesters and held one of CCNB Action’s anti-shale gas signs. CCNB Action is calling for a ban on shale gas in the province of New Brunswick. Landry and protesters discussed the idea of a referendum on shale gas.
Last week, about 100 people blocked seismic vibrators on a road north of Stanley for two days. About 70 people occupied the Centennial Building the day after the Stanley blockade on August 11th. The largest anti-shale gas demonstration occurred on New Brunswick Day when about 1,500 marched through the streets of Fredericton to the Legislature.