Environmental campaigners and oppositionpoliticians have raised concerns about more than £27,000 donated to theScottish National Party by a drilling company that could benefit if the currentmoratorium on fracking was to end. Adecision on the fracking future in Scotland has been agreed by SNP government not to be taken before a health assessment and apublic consultation, unlikely to end until after next May’s Holyrood elections
Fracking company, Hydracrat Limited, based in Motherwell, donated £17,500to the SNP, as well as £3,750to Neil Gray,SNP MP for Airdrie and Shotts, according to the Electoral Commission.Hydracrat lists its principal activity as ‘test drilling and boring’.The company currently works extensively in renewables and mineral explorationbut envisages opportunities for groundwater monitoring if shale gas explorationwere to get the go-ahead in Scotland.
Scottish Green MSP Patrick Harvie said that accepting donations from the drillingcompany undermined the SNP’s environmental message. “Accepting donations from acompany involved in fossil fuel extraction underlines the SNP’smore-of-everything approach to energy when what is urgently needed is a clearshift towards clean technology,” the Green co-convenor said.“Voters who want a greenerScotland would be entitled to question the credibility of a party takingdonations from firms at odds with this agenda