Scotland has declared that it will not support the development of unconventional oil or gas, calling such projects incompatible with efforts to curb climate change. On October 3, Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse outlined the Scottish government’s policy, saying that a moratorium imposed in 2015 on the extraction of shale oil, shale gas, and coal-bed methane (CBM) would remain in place.
In a speech to the Scottish parliament, Wheelhouse explained that the ban would continue to apply to exploration, appraisal, and extraction of onshore unconventional reserves. This measure prohibits the use of unconventional extraction techniques such as hydraulic fracturing (fracking) at shale fields and dewatering at CBM deposits, he stated.
He also said Scottish authorities had stopped short of introducing new legislation to formalize the ban. “We do not consider that new legislation is necessary at this time to control unconventional oil and gas development in Scotland; a strong policy position enacted through devolved planning powers and licensing is – we believe – robust, evidence-led and sufficient,” he remarked.
Nevertheless, he commented, the Scottish government will avail itself of this option in the future if it becomes necessary.