The UK MPs have voted to legalize fracking for extraction of shale gas trapped in underground shale rocks some 1,200m below national parks to offset declining North Sea oil and gas output, Reuters reported.

The fracking process, where water, sand, and chemicals are injected in the soil to open up the shale rocks and release the trapped gas, has been opposed by environmentalists.

Shale gas driller will be allowed to drill horizontally in the areas located outside the protected zones.

UK’s Energy Minister, Andrea Leadsom said that moving from coal to gas was a great decarbonization win and it could improve country’s energy security, while creating many job opportunities, according to BBC.