Shale gas plan decision delay

Published on 09/07/2012 00:00

THE decision to give the go-ahead for a controversial shale gas project in the UK has been delayed until autumn.

Although a recent government study found that hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking”, could be done safely, plans by Cuadrilla Resources to re-start drilling near Blackpool are facing further delays.

UK government sources have denied that it is worried about the appointment last September of former BP boss Lord Browne, who was criticised for overseeing a poor safety culture at the oil giant, as chair of Cuadrilla.

Cuadrilla claims to have found enough shale gas to supply Britain for over 70 years.