CANBERRA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Australia's Resources Minister has urged the nation to embrace a shale gas revolution.
Matt Canavan told The Australian on Monday that Australia embracing shale gas to the same extent as the U.S. has would deliver a manufacturing boom for northern Australia, for which he is also the minister.
"More use of gas can also help bring down carbon emissions," he said.
"Shale gas is a proven technology that we should embrace in Australia."
Shale gas is natural gas that is trapped in shale roc formations. It can be extracted using a process called hydraulic fracturing, commonly referred to as "fracking", whereby liquid is injected at high pressure into rock to open existing fissures.
According to Geoscience Australia's submission to the Scientific Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracturing in the Northern Territory (NT) a moderate level of onshore gas development in the NT's Beetaloo basin would create 6,500 jobs and be worth more than 9 billion Australian dollars (6.1 billion U.S. dollars) per year.
"There is enormous potential for Australian energy to help other countries in our region grow and develop, and produce wealth for Australians," Canavan said.
