OTTAWA — The federal government is concerned about the latest claim that Russia is trying to use its energy resources as a tool to pressure its neighbours.

Instead of threatening to cut off oil and gas to its European customers, Russia is allegedly helping non-governmental groups to spread misinformation about hydraulic fracturing — known as fracking — in order to help keep Europe dependent on Russian energy.

The accusation came from the secretary-general of NATO Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who said Thursday that Russia was actively working with environmental groups to plot against fracking.

"I have met allies who can report that Russia, as part of their sophisticated information and disinformation operations, engages actively with so-called non-governmental organizations, environmental organizations, working against shale gas obviously to maintain European dependence on imported Russian gas," he said.

Employment Minister Jason Kenney said Friday that whether or not Russia is helping to spread lies about shale gas development, the continent needs more energy options, particularly from Canada.

He said Canada needs to build pipelines that travel east to help reduce Europe's dependence on Russian oil and gas.

"All of this links together," Kenney said.

Green groups denied any involvement with the Russian government in anti-fracking campaigns, and Russia's state-owned news service RT was quick to post a story denying Russian involvement.

"Greenpeace had 30 of its people locked up in (Russian) prisons last year, threatened with 15 years in jail," says a spokesman for Greenpeace, quoted in RT. "The idea we're puppets of Putin is so preposterous that you have to wonder what they're smoking over at NATO HQ."

Fracking has lead to the highest natural gas boon in the United States in nearly three decades. However, the practice has been banned in numerous jurisdictions, including Bulgaria, Romania and the Czech Republic, following successful anti-fracking campaigns by environmental groups.