Another statement to parliament, more scientific evidence, yet we are no clearer on the Scottish Government’s position on fracking.
This was another missed opportunity for the SNP to send a clear and positive signal to the industry.
Instead, we have more dithering and delay and a failure to recognise an opportunity to provide a boost to the economy and create jobs at a time when the North Sea oil and gas industry is in long-term decline.
Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse was at pains to stress that the government is listening, but one wonders why they have not listened to the expert advice already provided.
We know from Professor Paul Younger, Rankine Chair of Engineering at the University of Glasgow, that the Scottish Government’s justification for the moratorium on fracking was “all made up” and “completely feigned”.
It is already clear, thanks to the research commissioned by this government, that the technology can be used safely provided the right regulatory framework is in place.
Mr Wheelhouse even admitted today that the industry could be worth £3.4billion to the Scottish economy and create 1,400 jobs.
Yet the charade continues. More research is published but we seem no closer to a decision.
Indeed, this is a government that seems incapable of making a difficult choice.
Even if the SNP were to adopt the rather bizarre stance of Labour, once the party of the workers, to impose an outright ban on an industry that can create jobs, at least it would put an end to the uncertainty.
As it is, we remain in limbo.
Meanwhile, we continue to have the bizarre situation of shipments of shale gas arriving from the United States to be processed at the Ineos petro-chemical plant in Grangemouth.
These imports have helped to secure the profitability of the operation, and crucially safeguard thousands of jobs.
However, the practice remains outlawed here in Scotland, and purely for political reasons.
As I have said before, it seems the SNP are quite happy for our economy to benefit from fracking – provided it takes place in Pennsylvania rather than in the Central Belt.
It is a hypocritical stance and it doesn’t make sense.
Now we could be looking at the second half of 2017 before the Scottish Government makes its decision. Industry and indeed consumers should not be kept waiting any longer.
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