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Released February 02, 2015 | GALWAY, IRELAND
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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--As the U.K. government races to exploit shale gas reserves, Scotland's government has approved a temporary ban on granting consents for unconventional oil and gas developments in Scotland.
Scottish Energy Minister, Fergus Ewing, announced his government's moratorium on granting consents just days after U.K. politicians voted against a similar ban.
"I am announcing a moratorium on the granting of planning consents for all unconventional oil and gas developments, including fracking," Ewing explained. "This moratorium will continue until such time as the work I have set out to Parliament today, including a full public consultation, is completed. The Scottish Government has taken a cautious, considered and evidence-based approach to unconventional oil and gas and fracking. I have listened carefully to concerns raised by local communities and environmental campaigners. We have put in place robust environmental regulation, tougher planning rules and successfully opposed the U.K. Government's plans to end Scottish householders' rights to object to drilling under their homes."
The Scottish move comes as the U.K.'s leading proposed shale gas project ran into local planning difficulties. Last week, Lancashire County Council deferred a final decision on two projects (Roseacre and Preston Road) being proposed by shale gas company, Cuadrilla Resources Ltd (Lichfield, England). Cuadrilla asked for the delay after the council's planners recommended that permission should not be granted for the two exploratory wells near Blackpool on the basis of noise at night and traffic density. For additional information, see January 30, 2015, article - U.K. Fracking Project Delayed.
Ewing added: "We recognise that local communities are likely to bear the brunt of any unconventional oil and gas developments, particularly in terms of increased traffic and related emissions and noise impacts. We should never close our minds to the potential opportunities of new technologies -- but we must also ensure that community, environmental and health concerns are never simply brushed aside".
United Kingdom Onshore Oil and Gas (UKOOG), the representative body for the onshore Oil and Gas Industry, welcomed the government's decision but warned that Scotland needs to diversify its energy mix.
Ken Cronin, Chief Executive of UKOOG, commented: "Scotland needs to produce its own oil and gas for both economic and energy security reasons. Scotland has led the way in the development of offshore oil and gas and should take this opportunity to do so again onshore. Four fifths of Scotland's heat and many everyday items come from natural gas. However Scotland in 2020 could be importing three quarters of its gas potentially from other less stable countries. Onshore gas and oil will benefit the Scottish economy, not only directly, with jobs created through oil and gas extraction, but also indirectly, as oil and gas is a critical raw material for the chemicals industry at facilities such as Grangemouth".
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, three offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities.
Scottish Energy Minister, Fergus Ewing, announced his government's moratorium on granting consents just days after U.K. politicians voted against a similar ban.
"I am announcing a moratorium on the granting of planning consents for all unconventional oil and gas developments, including fracking," Ewing explained. "This moratorium will continue until such time as the work I have set out to Parliament today, including a full public consultation, is completed. The Scottish Government has taken a cautious, considered and evidence-based approach to unconventional oil and gas and fracking. I have listened carefully to concerns raised by local communities and environmental campaigners. We have put in place robust environmental regulation, tougher planning rules and successfully opposed the U.K. Government's plans to end Scottish householders' rights to object to drilling under their homes."
The Scottish move comes as the U.K.'s leading proposed shale gas project ran into local planning difficulties. Last week, Lancashire County Council deferred a final decision on two projects (Roseacre and Preston Road) being proposed by shale gas company, Cuadrilla Resources Ltd (Lichfield, England). Cuadrilla asked for the delay after the council's planners recommended that permission should not be granted for the two exploratory wells near Blackpool on the basis of noise at night and traffic density. For additional information, see January 30, 2015, article - U.K. Fracking Project Delayed.
Ewing added: "We recognise that local communities are likely to bear the brunt of any unconventional oil and gas developments, particularly in terms of increased traffic and related emissions and noise impacts. We should never close our minds to the potential opportunities of new technologies -- but we must also ensure that community, environmental and health concerns are never simply brushed aside".
United Kingdom Onshore Oil and Gas (UKOOG), the representative body for the onshore Oil and Gas Industry, welcomed the government's decision but warned that Scotland needs to diversify its energy mix.
Ken Cronin, Chief Executive of UKOOG, commented: "Scotland needs to produce its own oil and gas for both economic and energy security reasons. Scotland has led the way in the development of offshore oil and gas and should take this opportunity to do so again onshore. Four fifths of Scotland's heat and many everyday items come from natural gas. However Scotland in 2020 could be importing three quarters of its gas potentially from other less stable countries. Onshore gas and oil will benefit the Scottish economy, not only directly, with jobs created through oil and gas extraction, but also indirectly, as oil and gas is a critical raw material for the chemicals industry at facilities such as Grangemouth".
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, three offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities.
