UKOOG comment on the announcement by Scottish Government on fracking

28 January 2015

UKOOG, the representative body for the onshore oil and gas industry, welcomes the announcement today of a public consultation into fracking in Scotland.

Ken Cronin, Chief Executive of UKOOG, commented:

“We recognise that the general public have concerns about the issues around fracking and welcome this opportunity to present the facts to the Scottish people. Many independent reports, including the independent panel set up by the Scottish Government1, have commented that a robust regulatory process is substantially in place. 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. The onshore oil and gas industry looks forward to playing a very full part in this process.

“Scotland needs an energy mix that covers all the nation’s needs. 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 throughoil and gas extraction, but also indirectly, as oil and gas is a critical raw material for the chemicals industry at facilities such as Grangemouth.

“The onshore oil and gas industry has also committed to a multimillion pound programme of benefits for local communities and stakeholders as well as boosting contributions to local councils.

“A whole range of experts including public health bodies in the UK, the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management and the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering have all concluded that any health and environmental risks can be managed in a well regulated industry.

“We have had a well regulated industry in Scotland for many decades. We have drilled over 30 wells in the last 20 years. One of the first hydraulic fractures in the UK took place in Airdrie nearly 50 years ago and fracking also took place inside the Glasgow city boundary in 1989 at Easterhouse.”

1http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0045/00456579.pdf

ENDS

Contact: Jason Nisse/Nick Morris/Ian Scofield 0207 680 6550 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

About UKOOG:

UKOOG is the representative body for the UK onshore oil and gas industry, including exploration, production and storage. The organisation’s objectives are to enhance the profile of the onshore industry, promote better and more open dialogue with key stakeholders, deliver industry wide initiatives and programmes and to ensure standards in safety, the environment and operations are maintained to the highest possible level. Membership is open to all companies active in the onshore industry including those involved in the supply chain.
www.ukoog.org.uk