Ineos slams MPs’ call to ban shale gas

The House of Commons’ Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) today published a report calling for a moratorium on all drilling for shale gas, claiming that development of shale reserves “cannot be compatible with our long-term commitments to cut climate changing emissions”.

This report follows similar calls for a shale gas ban being submitted as amendments to the Infrastructure Bill, which was debated in the House of Commons last week. 

The Committee didn’t look hard enough at the country’s desperate need for shale gas to reduce energy costs and revitalise industry

Ineos director Tom Crotty

Ineos plans to invest £640 million in shale gas development in Scotland and the north of England, and today said that the EAC has overly focussed on the potential risks rather than the benefits of Shale gas extraction.

“This was a missed opportunity,” said Ineos director Tom Crotty.

“The Committee deliberately sought out views that focussed on concerns about water quality, emissions and geological integrity and so produced a partisan and partial report. The Committee refused to see Ineos and didn’t look hard enough at the massive decline in the UK’s manufacturing base and the country’s desperate need for shale gas to reduce energy costs and revitalise industry.”

The EAC report claims that any large scale extraction of shale gas in the UK is likely to be at least 10-15 years away, and would be “unlikely to be able to compete against the extensive renewable energy sector we should have by 2025-30”.

It also denies shale gas supporters’ claims that the gas could help lower CO2 emissions by replacing coal, as “by that time, it is likely that unabated coal-fired power generation will have been phased out to meet EU emissions directives, so fracking will not substitute for (more carbon-intensive) coal”.

The report also raises concerns over the immediate impact of hydraulic fracturing on groundwater and the natural beauty of the British countryside.

However, Crotty insisted shale gas could be extracted without damaging the environment.

“The UK needs Shale gas and we know that Ineos has the skills to safely extract it from the ground without damaging the environment,” said Crotty.

“We have committed to public consultation and to share 6% of the entire revenue from any of our Shale gas wells with the local community. Without Shale gas, UK manufacturing is starting to collapse so we need to kick start the Shale gas industry, not put it on hold.”