Survey finds Scotland must convince people on shale gas fracking if it votes for independence

A new survey by the University of Nottingham has revealed that if Scotland votes for independence, the newly elected government must work hard in convincing people on shale gas fracking.

The university, which has been undertaking shale gas survey in the UK since March 2012, found that people living north of the border are the least supportive of fracking.

The University of Nottingham School of Geography research leader Sarah O’Hara said: "The clear move against shale gas extraction in Scotland is at odds with the rhetoric of pro-independence groups that have suggested that tapping into the region’s unconventional energy resources could provide a colossal boost to Scotland’s public finances."

The newly elected Scotland Government would have to look to its onshore reserves of shale gas in order to secure its energy future if the country’s offshore output declines.

According to the British Geological Survey, Scotland’s Midland Valley is estimated to contain 80 trillion cubic feet of shale gas.

The number is based on calculations that if 10% of the amount were to be recoverable, Scotland will have gas for 46 years at present usage rates.

The University of Nottingham School of Politics and International Relations professor Mathew Humphrey said: "So if it exploits its shale gas reserves Scotland could potentially be self-sufficient in gas for decades.

"This possibility raises a question, however: what do the Scots themselves think of the risks and rewards of exploiting shale?"

The university’s survey found that support for fracking has declined to just under 49%.

Around 79% of Conservatives are strongly in favour of shale gas extraction, compared with 47.6% and 47.4% for Labour and Liberal Democrats respectively.

According to the survey, only 36.5% of Scottish National Party voters are in favour of shale gas extraction.

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Image: The survey found that people living north of the border are the least supportive of fracking. Photo: courtesy of the University of Nottingham.