PROFIT-HUNGRY fracking firm Ineos has been accused of trying to undermine democracy after forcing a judicial review of Scotland’s decision to ban the controversial energy-extraction process.

Campaign group Friends of the Earth Scotland (FoE) said today that the energy firm’s campaign to overturn the ban “reeks of desperation from an industry that is failing to get results anywhere in Scotland, the UK or elsewhere in Europe.”

In October last year the Scottish government imposed an indefinite moratorium on drilling for shale gas and oil within its national boundaries. A similar ban is in place in Wales.

Energy company Ineos challenged Holyrood’s decision and on Friday a judicial review of the ban was granted by Scotland’s Court of Session.

Richard Dixon of FoE told the Star: “Ineos is no doubt making this challenge in order to try to keep alive its hopes of ever making any money out of this toxic industry.

“There is overwhelming support for this ban from the communities who are in the path of this new fossil fuel industry, people the length and breadth of Scotland, and almost all the parties at Holyrood.”

He said Ineos was “attempting to overturn a democratic process” involving tens of thousands of people, 99 per cent of whom oppose fracking.

Fracking involves drilling into shale layers deep beneath the Earth’s surface, then pumping in a toxic mixture of chemicals, sand and water to release trapped gas or oil.

Opponents say fracking poisons water supplies and the atmosphere, causes damage to buildings, disturbs residents, causes geological tremors, industrialises the countryside and increases carbon emissions.