The controversial practice of fracking has been stopped amid fears of earthquakes.
Environmentalists have welcomed the unexpected move by the government, hailing it as a victory for communities and the climate.
The announcement follows a report by the Oil and Gas Authority, which said it was not possible to predict the probability or size of tremors caused by the practice.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he had ‘very considerable anxieties’ about shale gas extraction – where vast quantities of water and chemicals are pumped into unstable rock to release combustible gas.
The Tories now follow Labour and the Lib Dems in withdrawing their support for the new fossil fuel industry, which was being trialled at sites in Lancashire. The moratorium stops short of an outright ban, which the devolved governments in Scotland and Wales have put in place.