[A]ngela Merkel's conservatives and the Social Democrats (SPD) agreed to retain a moratorium on fracking for gas and cut incentives for wind power in areas where it is abundant, if they form a new coalition government...Leaders of the two sides told journalists...they had agreed to put a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, for shale gas...Shale gas fracking has so far been banned in Germany and the stance of the potential new government reinforces prospects that unconventional gas exploration will not be pursued in the country...[Fracking] is criticised by environmentalists, who warn of potential seismic effects and water pollution...The government's stance determines whether oil and gas companies such as ExxonMobil and Wintershall get a chance to assess the potential of shale gas in Germany...