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| Minister rejects fracking firm's borehole application | Minister rejects fracking firm's borehole application |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The environment minister has rejected an application to drill an exploratory borehole for shale gas in County Fermanagh. | |
| Mark H Durkan said the decision to turn down the application had been taken "after very careful consideration". | Mark H Durkan said the decision to turn down the application had been taken "after very careful consideration". |
| Tamboran Resources had applied for permission to drill a 750m deep hole at a quarry at Belcoo. | |
| It issued a statement saying it was "deeply concerned" by the minister's decision. | |
| "The company is currently reviewing its position and will release a further statement in due course," Tamboran said. | |
| The MP for the area, Michelle Gildernew of Sinn Féin, welcomed the announcement. | |
| "The decision to deny Tamboran to begin deep bore test drilling in Belcoo, Fermanagh, is the correct decision given the clear opposition to fracking in the area," she said. | |
| Protesters objecting to both fracking and gas exploration had held a permanent vigil at the quarry. | Protesters objecting to both fracking and gas exploration had held a permanent vigil at the quarry. |
| The aim of the borehole was to check if there was enough gas below ground to warrant seeking a licence to set up a fracking operation. | The aim of the borehole was to check if there was enough gas below ground to warrant seeking a licence to set up a fracking operation. |
| Tamboran staff moved into the quarry three weeks ago and carried out work to secure the site. | Tamboran staff moved into the quarry three weeks ago and carried out work to secure the site. |
| Protesters said they feared a borehole could be the first step towards the setting up of an industry that they believe could damage the environment and the health of local residents. | Protesters said they feared a borehole could be the first step towards the setting up of an industry that they believe could damage the environment and the health of local residents. |
| The borehole drilling process would not have involved fracking. | The borehole drilling process would not have involved fracking. |
| Currently, Sinn Féin, the SDLP and UUP say they oppose fracking, while the DUP has said exploration should take place, and any application for extraction should be judged at the time. | Currently, Sinn Féin, the SDLP and UUP say they oppose fracking, while the DUP has said exploration should take place, and any application for extraction should be judged at the time. |
| Last week, politicians condemned a petrol bomb attack that targeted the family home of a Tamboran worker in Letterbreen. | Last week, politicians condemned a petrol bomb attack that targeted the family home of a Tamboran worker in Letterbreen. |