Cuadrilla Resources Ltd.

Quick Scan

Publication

Joseph Wilde-Ramsing

K. Racz

1 November 2013

Given the sensitivities and difficulties associated with shale gas exploration and exploitation in a densely-populated country like the Netherlands, a complex, heated, and important debate about the countrys energy future lies ahead for Dutch politicians, corporate actors, civil society organisation and other stakeholders. Should the Dutch government eventually decide to proceed with exploratory fracking, it will require a responsible and diligent corporate partner to do so. UK-based Cuadrilla Resources Ltd. is one of the companies that has been granted a preliminary licence for shale gas exploration in the Netherlands. The present Quick Scan assesses and analyses several aspects of Cuadrilla Resources operations, policies and the companys track record and involvement in controversies related to CSR issues and normative standards found in the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. The limited number and scope of publicly-available CSR policies and procedures, the lack of risk-based due diligence procedures as is required by the OECD Guidelines, combined with Cuadrillas association with a wide range of controversies call into question whether Cuadrilla represents the responsible, diligent partner the Dutch government will need should it decide to go ahead with fracking.