Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser has urged the Scottish Government to stop dragging its feet on shale gas exploration after the Grangemouth Petrochemical Plant owner Ineos ordered another two ships to bring shale gas from the US to Europe.
The two Dragon Class ethane vessels will boost the Ineos fleet to eight. Ineos believes the order will satisfy demand from its plants at Grangemouth and Rafnes, Norway.
Ineos believes US ethane is vital for the long-term future of the Grangemouth plant due to "declining and expensive" ethane volumes from the North Sea. Ineos has also bought the rights to explore fracking for shale gas in a 127 square mile area around Grangemouth and the Firth of Forth.
Commenting Scottish Conservative Energy Spokesperson Murdo Fraser MSP said:
“Scotland’s only oil and gas refinery believes that shale gas is the future and the Scottish Government should too.
“We are uniquely placed to take advantage of shale gas as we already have considerable amounts of drilling expertise based in the North Sea. However, if we don’t capitalise on this advantage, any potential shale gas bonanza could be over before it has even began.
“On our doorstep we have a source of energy that has the potential to increase our energy independence, create jobs, reduce carbon emissions and lower fuel poverty and the Scottish Government need to get on-board and create the right conditions for fracking.
“Westminster is doing all it can to help the development of shale gas and I believe that we should be taking a similar approach in Scotland.”