Underground coal burning threats revealed

Reacting to the release by the Sunday Herald and the Ferret of an internal SEPA report on the possible impacts of Underground Coal Gasification, Dr Richard Dixon, Director of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said:

“From explosions and uncontrollable fires to routine pollution risks and earthquakes this report demonstrates the potential for Underground Coal Gasification to be a disaster for people, wildlife and the economy. UCG has a terrible record around the world and its proponents in Scotland want to add the extra risk of doing under the Forth and the Solway. It is clear from the Paris climate summit that the last thing we need is more dodgy fossil fuels. Underground coal gasification is clearly all risk and no gain.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. The SEPA report is revealed in the Ferret  and the Sunday Herald 
2.The Scottish Government's announcement of a moratorium on underground coal gasification and details of the research timetable is here: http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Moratorium-on-underground-coal-gasification-1e1a.aspx
3. Friends of the Earth briefing on Underground Coal Gasification here: http://foes.do/UCG_briefing
4. Friends of the Earth Scotland is:
* Scotland's leading environmental campaigning organisation
* An independent Scottish charity with a network of thousands of supporters and active local groups across Scotland
* Part of the largest grassroots environmental network in the world, uniting over 2 million supporters, 75 national member groups, and some 5,000 local activist groups.