Gerwyn Jones from January 201420 May 2015 18:11
AN “enormous” amount of gas exists below ground in South Wales, according to an energy company chairman keen to explore its potential.
Gerwyn Williams, chairman of UK Onshore Gas Limited, whose subsidiary companies Methane UK Ltd and Coastal Oil and Gas Ltd hold licences to explore South Wales, has test drilled for gas in Banwen, Port Talbot and has permission to do so near Cwmavon and at the RSPCA Llys Nini centre near Penllergaer.
He told MPs on the Welsh Affairs Select Committee last November: “There is an enormous amount of gas in South Wales and I've spent my life in the mining industry - 22 years for British Coal and then in private mines, and they've virtually all gone.
“But the energy source is still there and in my view we should be exploiting it.”
Mr Williams also gave evidence to Assembly members in March last year.
He said: “There have been problems with shale gas in the USA: there is no denying that. The difference between the UK and the US is that there are different sets of legislation. We are far better governed in the UK than the industry in the USA is.”
He added: “As far as the economics of the industry is concerned, we believe that, because of the work we have done so far, we can extract the gas economically and it would be of huge benefit for Wales in kick-starting the economy and providing jobs.”