Liverpool could play an important role in the UK’s adoption of hydraulic fracturing, better known as ‘fracking’. This is the opinion of John Blaymires, the chief operating officer of the I-Gas energy firm, who said that the city region could become a “new Aberdeen”, acting as a focal point for “ a new energy industry built around difficult-to-extract
resources”.

I-Gas has fracking licences covering a large area stretching from Manchester to the Mersey Estuary; is looking to supply the energy-intensive chemicals and refining industries around Ellesmere Port and Runcorn. The company recently concluded a three-month exploratory drilling programme at Barton in Salford, where it was looking at the potential for coal-bed methane and shale gas. It will now carry out a six-month analysis of materials and is looking at seismic data to work out the location of its next exploration site. 

Mr Blaymires said: “There are lots of jobs associated with drilling, but there isn’t a supply chain at the moment — or the capacity — to drill thousands of wells. We’re doing a lot of work on building up the supply chain by looking at apprenticeships and training programmes. It’s a ‘chicken and egg’ situation — companies aren’t going to invest until they see that there is business there for them.

However, Liverpool could be a new Aberdeen, if we can get shale gas established in this area and build up the capability. The corridor between Manchester and Liverpool has the infrastructure, skills, ports and airports; it is very strategically placed to take advantage of this opportunity.”