The chief executive of industry body UK Onshore Oil and Gas (UKOOG), said it was a “vital day” for the UK’s energy future as new licences for onshore gas and oil exploration in 159 blocks were granted.
Ken Cronin, said the UK had become increasingly dependent on fossil fuel imports.
He said: “We need to ensure that the 84% of our homes that use gas for heating can continue to do so and that the 30% of electricity produced by gas can be met using UK sources.
“We need to help meet the goals of the Government to eliminate coal from the system and ensure that we can also use gas and oil from our own country to produce products that are so vital to our everyday lives, like clothing, medicines, cosmetics and computers.”
The blocks relate to squares of land which the companies will have licence to explore for oil and gas, but they will still need landowner consent, Environment Agency assessments and planning permission before drilling can start.
The process could take several years before exploration, including fracking, takes place.
Adam Marshall, executive director for policy and external affairs at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “Issuing new shale gas licences will be meaningless unless planning permission can actually be secured for projects to get up and running.
“Ministers must take urgent action to pare back the long-winded cycle of applications and appeals, which is undermining both interest and investment in energy projects across the UK.”
OGA chief executive Andy Samuel said: “This round enables a significant amount of the UK’s shale prospects to be taken forward to be explored and tested.”
Anti-fracking campaigners say could open swathes of the country to fracking
