In the latest move to open the well, chemicals and energy company Ineos have offered to drill the shale gas test site in a bid to show that fracking extraction for gas can be safe.
It comes after the Government published its energy strategy which focuses on securing UK energy supplies, as western countries consider how to reduce reliance on Russian oil and gas.
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The Government has also commissioned a review into the science around fracking, which could pave the way to lifting the current moratorium on the process brought in over the tremors it caused. Photo: Christopher Furlong
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But Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has warned fracking would take years of exploration and development to produce commercial levels of gas. Photo: Christopher Furlong
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Ineos said the moratorium was imposed because the “science behind shale was totally ignored and politicians bowed to an extreme vocal minority”. Photo: Christopher Furlong
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Promoting his new energy strategy, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the Government was taking a “sensible and pragmatic view” on new North Sea oil and gas and said it was important to license domestic resources rather than importing higher carbon fossil fuels from Russia and other places. Photo: Christopher Furlong
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Sir Jim said: “The UK is right to be re-examining its energy policy and to look again at the North Sea as part of the answer to our energy needs. Photo: Christopher Furlong
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The Ineos chairman said the company would invite Government inspectors to monitor the site, and make it good if the science shows there are problems. Photo: Christopher Furlong