The member’s work estimates that over a 30 year period 46,000 jobs would be created including those in science, engineering and construction.
He added: “In the same way Aberdeen has benefited by being the centre of the British North Sea oil industry, London could benefit from this Weald Basin industry, which is on the verge of massive growth.
“It’s an opportunity that can’t be missed and needs a powerful voice to say how marvellous it is. Currently the most powerful we have is Boris.”
The Tories were planning to push Mr Johnson over the issue at Mayor’s Question time today, asking him to host a shale summit and encourage London universities to produce more graduates for the industry.
A spokesperson for Mr Johnson said: “The Mayor is a firm supporter of fracking and more locally sourced and sustainable power supplies.”
She went on: ”We should leave no stone unturned, or unfracked, as long as we comply with the relevant planning and environmental regulations, to help keep London’s lights on, energy bills down, create more jobs and boost London’s energy industry.”
But Baroness Jenny Jones, a Green member of the London Assembly, warned that fracked oil and gas would exacerbate climate change and the focus should be on developing solar, wind and other renewable energy sources.
She added: “The reckless pursuit of ‘fracking’ ignores the risk of contaminating ground water through the pumping of massive amounts of water and toxic chemicals under high pressure.
“Furthermore it means that swathes of London and the South East will be threatened with disruption, noise and pollution as thousands of fracking trucks pass through their neighbourhoods.”
