Local interests should be heeded also and provincial and municipal authorities should be given a greater say in the discussion concerning shale gas. This could be done by allowing them more control over activities in the deep subsoil. Now the ministry focuses especially on technical risks and economic benefits. There should be a broad discussion about the role of (shale) gas in the transition to a sustainable energy system. These are the main recommendations that researchers have presented to Minister Henk Kamp for Economic Affairs.

Dr. Annick de Vries from the Rathenau Institute, who has also participated in the research, will be one of the speakers on the TU/e Energy Day on September 19, which will be entirely devoted to shale gas.