Tom Greatrex MP, Labour’s Shadow Energy Minister, commenting on the news that INEOS plan to invest £640m in the UK’s shale gas industry, said:

“Shale gas extraction cannot go ahead unless we have a system of robust environmental regulation and comprehensive inspection. But David Cameron’s government have repeatedly side-lined genuine and legitimate environmental concerns to justify their desire to present shale gas as a silver bullet for all of our energy challenges.

“Early this month the Tories and Lib Dems voted against Labour amendments which would close loopholes in the existing environmental regulation for shale gas in the Houser of Lords – we will table similar amendments to ensure robust regulation in the House of Commons. Our proposals to ensure monitoring of methane in the groundwater, compulsory Environmental Impact Assessments and a statutory twelve-month monitoring period were all rejected by Government. As INEOS’ investment brings the UK closer to commercial scale extraction of shale gas, the Government can no longer afford to ignore these much-needed reforms to the regulatory framework.

“While 8 out of 10 homes still rely on gas for heating, shale gas may have a role to play in displacing some of the gas we currently import and improving our energy security – it is not about increasing how much gas we use, but where we get it from.”

ENDS