Shale firm could pump gas this year

A BRITISH energy explorer believes it can heat homes with natural gas by the end of the year if the Government lifts a ban on fracking.

IGas has said it could prepare a planning application within weeks to extract shale gas in Nottinghamshire, which could be used to heat up to 125,000 homes.

It had been developing a shale site at Springs Road in Misson near Doncaster before the 2019 moratorium.

It is estimated that if the site were fully developed, it could create ten wells that would produce between 60 billion and 80billion cubic feet of shale gas.

Planning permission for the site ran out in 2020 and an application to extend it was refused. IGas plans to close the site formally at the end of the year.

But last night, the company urged the Government to lift the moratorium and galvanise local authorities to approve fracking applications.

IGas development director Ross Glover told The Mail on Sunday: ‘There is a significant need for gas and we believe we can help, and much quicker than we originally thought. But we need a streamlined regulatory system which will enable us to get this going.’

Another fracking firm, Cuadrilla, is preparing to seal its two wells in Lancashire with work due to begin this week. The Government’s Oil and Gas Authority has set a legal deadline of June 30 to seal the wells. Cuadrilla is urging the Government to withdraw the instruction.

Last week, fracking industry leaders presented the case for shale gas extraction to an audience of MPs in the Commons. It is understood that Tory former Transport Secretary Chris Grayling and Conservative MP Miriam Cates were among them.

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