‘Risky’ fuel extraction technique banned

A GAS extraction technique has been banned in Scotland despite claims it could provide thousands of jobs and inject millions into the economy.

Underground coal gasification (UCG) would have allowed the extraction of fossil fuels trapped beneath the Firth of Forth.

But yesterday Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse announced the technique was to be banned following an independent review.

Speaking to MSPs at Holyrood, Mr Wheelhouse said a poor regulatory framework was one of the reasons that UCG should not be allowed. The Scottish Government imposed a moratorium on UCG in October last year to consider the impact of the technique, which produces gas from underground coal seams.

Mr Wheelhouse said: ‘UCG poses numerous and serious environmental risks, and on that basis the Scottish Government cannot support this technology.’

Energy firm Cluff Natural Resources proposed to use UCG to extract gas from under the Firth of Forth near Kincardine, Fife. Chief operating officer Andrew Nunn said: ‘We have no doubt UCG will be developed elsewhere in the world and the opportunity for Scotland to benefit from first-mover advantage will have been lost.’

Tory energy spokesman Alexander Burnett, who claimed that allowing UCG could have provided thousands of jobs and millions of pounds to the economy, said: ‘It’s deeply disappointing that the Scottish Government is taking this stance – it’s yet another missed opportunity.’

But Mary Church, head of campaigns at Friends of the Earth, said: ‘This is a victory for people power. Setting coal seams alight under our firths was always a reckless idea.’