UKOOG disappointment over committee’s shale report

The report was published at the same time as the Government released its own plans for reforms to shale gas development process but differs sharply in several aspects.

Its support for a shale gas regulator, funding mechanisms to help local council planners and public forums received support from UKOOG.

However, the committee departed significantly from the Government assertion in a written statement that shale development was of national importance.

We find it concerning that the committee would seek to restrict our opportunity for homegrown production

Ken Cronin, chief executive, UKOOG

“The committee has taken the view that shale gas sites should not be treated as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs),” stated Cronin (pictured).

“With gas providing half of British electricity, over 80% of our heating and vital feedstocks to industry, we find it concerning that the committee would seek to restrict our opportunity for homegrown production to replace our rapidly increasing dependency on imported gas and oil.”

He also cited the committee’s failure to address concern about the length of planning applications and their contribution to increased public cost.

“This leaves communities with uncertainty and local taxpayers with a huge bill to foot and is against the experience of the previous ten years where most applications were deceided in less than four months and against a statutory timescale of three months,” added Cronin.