The Scottish government hopes to make a decision on whether to allow fracking in the second half of 2017.
The government is mulling over whether to allow the controversial oil and gas extraction technique in Scotland, with a moratorium currently in force.
Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse told MSPs that a “precautionary, evidence-based approach” would continue.
A public consultation based on newly published studies will be launched in January, before any decision is made.
At the same time, the government will publish its climate change plan and commission a full strategic environmental assessment.
Nicola Sturgeon’s government commissioned a series of independent research projects when it imposed a moratorium on fracking in January 2015, the conclusions of which have now been published.
Unconventional oil and gas (UOG) extraction has proved a controversial topic, with some political parties and green groups arguing it causes environmental damage, while others point to economic benefits.
Holyrood voted to support an outright ban on fracking in June, although SNP members abstained from that vote, and Labour has launched a members bill with the same aim.
But Mr Wheelhouse said the government would not be “gung-ho” and had committed to consulting on the evidence collected.
He said: “The extensive package of research published today will ensure the public has access to a comprehensive evidence base on the potential health, economic and environment impacts of UOG ahead of the launch of the Scottish government’s public consultation in the early New Year.
“These studies are an important contribution to the examination of the potential impacts of unconventional oil and gas technologies and underline the Scottish government’s precautionary, robust and evidence-based approach to UOG.”
Mr Wheelhouse was pressed by Conservative MSPs on the timescale for a decision, with claims the government was “incapable of making a tough decision”.
The minister said there would be a four-month consultation period starting in January and hoped to have the process complete in the second half of 2017.
Pressed further by Willie Rennie, Mr Wheelhouse said there would be a parliamentary vote on the matter.
He anticipated a “lively debate” and added: “I will intend to do that by the end of 2017.”
Article originally published by BBC
