The Government has ordered a new review into fracking as ministers consider "all possible domestic energy sources" in the wake of the crisis sparked by the war in Ukraine
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said he had asked the British Geological Survey to reassess the safety of shale gas extraction, which was banned in 2019.
He said the moratorium will remain in place "unless the latest scientific evidence demonstrates that shale gas extraction is safe, sustainable and of minimal disturbance to those living and working nearby".
It comes after the oil and gas regulator lifted an order to seal up the UK's only shale gas wells by the end of June.
Fracking firm Cuadrilla had been ordered to permanently seal its wells in Lancashire within months but it has now been given a year-long reprieve.
Speculation has been mounting that Boris Johnson could ditch the fracking ban as he draws up plans to wean the UK off reliance on Russian oil and gas.
The long-trailed energy security strategy is expected to be published on Thursday after several delays.
Fracking involves extracting gas from rocks and breaking them up with water and chemicals at high pressure.
A moratorium was imposed on the controversial process in November 2019 after experts said it was not possible to accurately predict the probability or magnitude of earthquakes linked to the process.
The Tory manifesto in 2019 promised: “We will not support fracking unless the science shows categorically that it can be done safely.”
Announcing the review, Mr Kwarteng said: “It remains the case that fracking in England would take years of exploration and development before commercial quantities of gas could be produced for the market, and would certainly have no effect on prices in the near term.
“However, there will continue to be an ongoing demand for oil and gas over the coming decades as we transition to cheap renewable energy and new nuclear power.
"In light of Putin’s criminal invasion of Ukraine, it is absolutely right that we explore all possible domestic energy sources.
“However, unless the latest scientific evidence demonstrates that shale gas extraction is safe, sustainable and of minimal disturbance to those living and working nearby, the pause in England will remain in place.”
He asked for the report to be submitted before the end of June.
Friends of the Earth energy campaigner, Danny Gross, said the idea that fracking could help to lower bills was "pure fantasy".
“We don’t need a review to know that fracking is not the answer to our energy needs," he said.
"The idea that shale gas extraction will significantly lower energy bills or improve energy security is pure fantasy.
“Fracking has been deeply unpopular with communities that have faced the prospect of shale gas extraction. They have stopped fracking once and, if necessary, they’ll stop it again.
“Energy efficiency and developing the UK’s vast renewable power potential are the best ways to deal with the energy crisis and bring down soaring fuel bills – and this must be the focus of the government’s upcoming energy review.”
