Fracking

The Scottish Government remains concerned about the effect of fracking on our natural environment.  The SNP aims to finalise and set out its policy in this area in the first quarter of 2019.​

The Scottish Government is opposed to fracking and has made the necessary arrangements to prevent it from happening in Scotland, including defending its policy in court.  It welcomes the devolution of the powers to issue and manage onshore oil and gas licences that gives Scotland the ability to determine where, when, and how to make the most of its onshore oil and gas resources.

The Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands set out in October last year that our preferred position is not to support unconventional oil and gas extraction in Scotland, and that position remains unchanged.  Future licensing decisions on unconventional oil and gas developments will be taken in line with our preferred policy on such developments.  Any future licensing decisions on conventional oil and gas developments will be taken only following due process, appropriate engagement with stakeholders, and with due regard to the environment.  Using our fully devolved planning powers ensures that we avoid any pitfalls that could emerge from future UK Government policies in this area. 

We have repeatedly set out to Parliament that we would undertake a Strategic Environmental Assessment ahead of finalising our policy.  It is anticipated that ministers will inform parliament of our policy on fracking in Scotland in the first quarter of 2019.  This approach has been endorsed by the overwhelming majority of the Scottish Parliament. The work to complete the Environmental Assessment and a Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment is currently underway and the findings will be carefully considered.  In the meantime, a moratorium is in place which means no local authority can grant planning permission.  Ministers would defer any decision on any planning application that did come forward until the policymaking process is completed.  The practical effect of the current moratorium and the policymaking process which is underway to finalise our position is that no fracking can take place in Scotland at this time.

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Updated 10 January 2019