Factsonfracking
May I commend George Holliday on his excellent letter on fracking costs (The Scotsman, 13 May)? His comprehensive summary requires to be listened to and understood by all politicians.
I should like to add two other important issues to be considered. Firstly, the UK is using approximately 95 billion cubic metres of gas per year. The North Sea is presently providing half of this gas but is expected to decline by at least 90 per cent over the next 30 years.
To maintain security of supply, imports of liquefied natural gas are increasing and it is estimated that these could amount to approximately 50 billion cubic metres by 2040. Imported liquefied natural gas has much higher CO2 emissions than North Sea gas or fracked gas from the UK. The conclusion must be that those who oppose fracking are happy to see our CO2 emissions increase.
Secondly, there is a price to pay for importing most of our gas. Gas is paid in dollars and all imported gas prices have increased since last year by approximately 12 per cent or more, dependent on the current value of the pound, which affects our balance of payments. Fracking, which has been clearly shown to be safe under UK regulations, could provide a proportion of our gas supply and help reduce our balance of payments, increase investment in local communities and reduce harmful emissions.
The decision to allow fracking should have been taken by the Scottish Government at the end of 2014 based on the report it commissioned.
Now we await the result of the “consultation on fracking,” due in June 2017, which, on past evidence, will be decided by the Scottish Government on the basis of opinions rather than factual evidence.
C. SCOTT Mortonhall Road, Edinburgh
Carol Mcmanus, in attacking me, majors on the health hazards that she insists are caused by fracking (Letters, 11 May). She ignores the facts from my letter on 3 May.
I repeat, Friends of the Earth was unable to substantiate its leaflet’s claims that fracking caused health problems, that water used in fracking contained toxic chemicals which could cause cancer and affect people’s nervous, immune and cardiovascular systems.
CLARK CROSS Springfield Road, Linlithgow