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No fracking in Northern Ireland, no fracking anywhere

news release

Friends of the Earth today (28 September 2015) strongly welcomed a major blow by Environment Minister Mark H Durkan to prospects for unconventional drilling for oil and gas in Northern Ireland.

The Minister has just released a new Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS), which includes a presumption against fracking and other unconventional extraction methods.  This policy will apply both to the DOE planning, and the eleven local authorities.

Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland’s Director, James Orr stated:

“This move by Minister Durkan represents a hugely positive contribution for a clean and green Northern Ireland. Whether it’s in the Arctic or Northern Ireland we need to shift from the fossil fuel industry that is recklessly fuelling climate change.  We also need to protect our water supply, farmland and air quality from dangerous pollution and industrialising the countryside. Instead Northern Ireland is uniquely placed to move forward with planning for an energy transformation based on renewables”

Mr Orr continued:

“The communities in Northern who have the drilling for oil and gas on their doorsteps have already spoken – they do not want dirty fracking in Northern Ireland.

“We will be studying the new SPPS closely to ensure that its provisions apply to the fossil fuel extraction proposed for Antrim.  These projects also appear to be unconventional and should therefore be covered by this policy.”

For further information, please contact Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland on 028 9023 3488.

Published by Friends of the Earth Ltd

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