Scotland is putting a temporary ban on hydraulic fracking, which is blasting huge volumes of water and chemicals into the ground to release trapped deposits of oil and gas.  Energy Minister Fergus Ewing told Holyrood that the ban would give the government time to conduct a public health assessment on the process.

“Given the importance of this work it would be inappropriate to allow any planning consents in the meantime,” Ewing told the chamber, prompting applause.  “I am therefore announcing a moratorium for the granting of planning consents on all unconventional oil and gas extraction including fracking.”

The Scottish government will now launch a full public consultation on the controversial drilling technique, and to commission a full public health impact assessment.

Environmentalists (and people who like to drink water that isn’t fouled by nasty, flammable chemicals) point to problems such as irreversibly polluted ground water, earthquakes, and the release of large amounts of methane, a harmful greenhouse gas.

“Fergus Ewing’s announcement today is huge victory for the communities, individuals and groups who have been campaigning to stop this dirty industry in Scotland,” said Dr. Richard Dixon, director of Friends of the Earth Scotland.  “This moratorium is a very big nail in the coffin for the unconventional gas and fracking industry in Scotland,” he added, calling fracking an “unnecessary industry”.

Energy companies are not happy about it.  Just a few days ago, Tom Crotty of the multinational chemical giant Ineos implored the Scottish government, “We need shale gas to meet those climate change targets.  We’ve learnt from the US this is now a safe process.  We’re heading for a cliff edge in energy supply.  If we keep postponing these decisions we’ll fall off.”