Swiss chemical firm Ineos Group has welcomed the findings from a survey sponsored by environmental group Greenpeace which found that the public is warming to the idea of fracking in the United Kingdom.
Research consultants with ComRes interviewed 2,035 U.K. adults online in March about their views on hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking.
The study found that 42 percent supported the idea, 35 percent opposed it and 23 percent answered ‘don't know'.
Although Britons were most likely to say that a local candidate backing fracking would not make a difference to the way they voted (44 percent), the survey found they were twice as likely to say that it would make them less likely to vote for the candidate (31 percent) as say it would make them more likely to vote for them (13 percent).
On the findings, Ineos director Tom Crotty said: “We welcome the ComRes survey results. It clearly shows that more and more people are seeing the potentially huge benefits of U.K. produced shale gas.
“U.K. shale gas is a once in a lifetime opportunity that we cannot afford to miss. North Sea oil created great wealth for the U.K., and shale gas can do the same. It will help secure manufacturing, deliver investment and create thousands of jobs.
“Ineos will continue with our community engagement program, aiming to speak directly to as many people as possible about this important issue and dispel as many of the untruths and the myths about shale gas production as possible.”
On March 17, Ineos announced it was launching a massive public information campaign in Scotland to discuss fracking with residents. It also has pledged to give 6 percent of shale gas revenues to local communities.
