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Fracking firms target sites close to Scottish cities Fracking firms target sites close to Scottish cities
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Major energy and fracking companies have made new bids to exploit large shale gas reserves close to many of central Scotland’s biggest towns and cities.Major energy and fracking companies have made new bids to exploit large shale gas reserves close to many of central Scotland’s biggest towns and cities.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc) has disclosed that nine companies have applied to drill for shale gas on 19 sites, each covering 100 sq km, in heavily populated areas close to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Motherwell, Linlithgow, Bathgate, Rosyth and Kirkcaldy.The Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc) has disclosed that nine companies have applied to drill for shale gas on 19 sites, each covering 100 sq km, in heavily populated areas close to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Motherwell, Linlithgow, Bathgate, Rosyth and Kirkcaldy.
The applications, disclosed in a freedom of information request from the investigative website the Ferret, suggest that fracking companies are now targeting the largest gas reserves close to the biggest population centres in central Scotland.The applications, disclosed in a freedom of information request from the investigative website the Ferret, suggest that fracking companies are now targeting the largest gas reserves close to the biggest population centres in central Scotland.
The companies involved are thought to include the oil refinery group Ineos, which owns the vast Grangemouth refinery and petrochemicals complex west of Edinburgh; iGas, which owns the fracking company Dart Energy; and the French multinational GDF Suez.The companies involved are thought to include the oil refinery group Ineos, which owns the vast Grangemouth refinery and petrochemicals complex west of Edinburgh; iGas, which owns the fracking company Dart Energy; and the French multinational GDF Suez.
The licensing process is shrouded in secrecy and the future of the applications is uncertain. The oil and gas authority refused to confirm exactly which 100 sq km blocks companies have applied for or which companies have bid, citing commercial confidentiality.The licensing process is shrouded in secrecy and the future of the applications is uncertain. The oil and gas authority refused to confirm exactly which 100 sq km blocks companies have applied for or which companies have bid, citing commercial confidentiality.
Ineos, iGas and GDF Suez – the three firms with licences for the nine blocks in Scotland which are already available for fracking around Falkirk – would not deny that they were among the bidders. They refused to comment until a formal announcement is made. Ineos, iGas and GDF Suez – the first two currently hold licences for the nine blocks in Scotland which are already available for fracking around Falkirk – would not deny that they were among the bidders. They refused to comment until a formal announcement is made.
Related: Ineos launches consultation to gain support for fracking in ScotlandRelated: Ineos launches consultation to gain support for fracking in Scotland
Eight of the 14 companies known to have interests in fracking said they had not applied for the Scottish sites, but three firms – Aberdeen Drilling Management, Reach Coal Seam Gas and Blackland Park Exploration – did not respond to a request from Ferret to comment.Eight of the 14 companies known to have interests in fracking said they had not applied for the Scottish sites, but three firms – Aberdeen Drilling Management, Reach Coal Seam Gas and Blackland Park Exploration – did not respond to a request from Ferret to comment.
Prof Stuart Haszeldine, a geologist and expert in oil and gas exploration, said detailed work by the British Geological Survey made it clear where the richest reserves of shale gas were in central Scotland – a region well known for its substantial coalbeds. They include the “Gulf of Gullane sweet spot” in East Lothian.Prof Stuart Haszeldine, a geologist and expert in oil and gas exploration, said detailed work by the British Geological Survey made it clear where the richest reserves of shale gas were in central Scotland – a region well known for its substantial coalbeds. They include the “Gulf of Gullane sweet spot” in East Lothian.
“In Scotland, we know where the most probable and best rocks to provide oil and gas are located underground,” Haszeldine said.“In Scotland, we know where the most probable and best rocks to provide oil and gas are located underground,” Haszeldine said.
“It is very likely most of the applications for shale exploitation by fracking will focus around east Glasgow, north Lanarkshire, the north-west corner of south Lanarkshire, West Lothian, Edinburgh city, south-west and south coastal Fife, Midlothian and the north-west of East Lothian.”“It is very likely most of the applications for shale exploitation by fracking will focus around east Glasgow, north Lanarkshire, the north-west corner of south Lanarkshire, West Lothian, Edinburgh city, south-west and south coastal Fife, Midlothian and the north-west of East Lothian.”
The blocks were put up for licensing by Decc but a final decision to allow drilling has been delayed by the introduction of new devolved planning powers in the Scotland bill.The blocks were put up for licensing by Decc but a final decision to allow drilling has been delayed by the introduction of new devolved planning powers in the Scotland bill.
Those powers will give Scottish ministers full control over licensing onshore gas drilling and fracking. That has led to the effective freezing of the current applications process until those new powers are in force, and delays to drilling in the nine blocks around Falkirk which are already licensed to fracking operators.Those powers will give Scottish ministers full control over licensing onshore gas drilling and fracking. That has led to the effective freezing of the current applications process until those new powers are in force, and delays to drilling in the nine blocks around Falkirk which are already licensed to fracking operators.
Related: Scotland announces moratorium on fracking for shale gasRelated: Scotland announces moratorium on fracking for shale gas
Under pressure from anti-fracking campaigns, climate activists and some Scottish National party members, Scottish ministers have introduced a two-year moratorium on commercial fracking operations but not exploration.Under pressure from anti-fracking campaigns, climate activists and some Scottish National party members, Scottish ministers have introduced a two-year moratorium on commercial fracking operations but not exploration.
It said that would allow officials to carry out “one of the world’s most wide-ranging research programmes into unconventional oil and gas”. Their report is due in the autumn of 2016, after May’s Scottish parliamentary elections, and it will cover seismic impacts, decommissioning, transport and economic issues, as well as climate impacts.It said that would allow officials to carry out “one of the world’s most wide-ranging research programmes into unconventional oil and gas”. Their report is due in the autumn of 2016, after May’s Scottish parliamentary elections, and it will cover seismic impacts, decommissioning, transport and economic issues, as well as climate impacts.
But that process does not prevent energy firms from carrying out scientific and test drilling. Industry executives say privately the moratorium will not significantly delay or impact on their fracking plans as it will take several years to finalise their proposals.But that process does not prevent energy firms from carrying out scientific and test drilling. Industry executives say privately the moratorium will not significantly delay or impact on their fracking plans as it will take several years to finalise their proposals.
Mary Church, head of campaigns for Friends of the Earth Scotland, said that in all, there were now some 3,000 sq km of countryside being targeted for fracking in central Scotland. “The only reasonable decision for the Scottish government to take is to turn the current moratorium into a ban so that communities are protected from this unwanted, unnecessary industry.Mary Church, head of campaigns for Friends of the Earth Scotland, said that in all, there were now some 3,000 sq km of countryside being targeted for fracking in central Scotland. “The only reasonable decision for the Scottish government to take is to turn the current moratorium into a ban so that communities are protected from this unwanted, unnecessary industry.
“The experience from the US and Australia, where commercial unconventional gas extraction is taking place, is that this industry brings with it numerous health and environmental risks and disruption to local businesses and way of life. Shale gas fracking and coalbed methane drilling are simply not compatible with healthy thriving communities.”“The experience from the US and Australia, where commercial unconventional gas extraction is taking place, is that this industry brings with it numerous health and environmental risks and disruption to local businesses and way of life. Shale gas fracking and coalbed methane drilling are simply not compatible with healthy thriving communities.”