"It is not since yesterday that we have been discussing the fracking. It is pointless from environmental, climate policy and economic perspectives. If everyone — the communities in Lower Austria and both ruling parties — are against it … then it would be logical for me if the cabinet made the decision [to ban fracking]," Gewessler said prior to a cabinet meeting.
The minister added that the relevant proposal had already been sent to the government and was being discussed informally.
Austria is evaluating prospects for finding a replacement to the gas no longer supplied by Russia. On January 11, the Austrian authorities said they were examining the possibility of replacing Russian gas with domestically-produced biogas. They warned, however, that volumes produced would be limited and the biogas could only be used in periods of high demand.