Ineos slams UK committee over shale gas proposal

London – Petrochemicals major Ineos has strongly rejected a proposal by the UK Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) which calls for a halt to shale gas development in the country.

The cross-party committee suggested that the government's drive for shale gas should be put on hold because it would lead to more reliance on fossil fuels.

In an announcement on 26 Jan, the company said the committee had “overly focussed” on the potential risks rather than the benefits of shale gas extraction.

“This was a missed opportunity,” said Ineos director Tom Crotty.

The committee, he added, deliberately sought out views that focussed on concerns about water quality, emissions and geological integrity and so produced a partisan and partial report.

Crotty went to criticise the committee for refusing to see Ineos and not looking “hard enough at the massive decline in the UK’s manufacturing base and the country’s desperate need for shale gas to reduce energy costs and revitalise industry.”

The cross-party committee also warned about the “uncertainties" over environmental impact of fracking.

Ineos announced in November 2014 that it was investing over £600 million in shale gas in the UK.

In its statement, the company highlighted that it was committed to public consultation and had agreed to give local communities 6 percent of all its shale gas revenues.