McKay asks Minister about fracking in North Antrim

Local MLA Daithi McKay has asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment ‘what action she is taking to prevent the possibility of fracking occurring in North Antrim’.

In a written Northern Ireland Assembly answer Arlene Foster explained: “Rathlin Energy Limited’s Work Programme as agreed with my Department under Petroleum Licence PL3/10 is based on exploration for conventional oil and gas targets, using industry standard techniques.

“Neither Rathlin Energy Limited nor any other company have proposed using High Volume Hydraulic Fracturing (HVHF) in North Antrim.

“I have already stated that I consider the potential use of HVHF in Northern Ireland to be novel and controversial and as such a matter for the Executive to decide on.”

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