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Extracting gas from Manx waters 'the better option' - Minister

Crogga applies for survey licence extension

The infrastructure minister says he thinks sourcing gas from a local field would be a better option than looking to Norway or Russia.

Tim Crookall told the House of Keys that the government hasn't yet made up its mind over whether a seismic survey licence should be renewed.

It's currently held by Crogga which claims there is a 'sizeable reservoir' of gas in the area near Maughold.

The licence is due to run out at the end of the year - Mr Crookall says a plan is needed:

"Terms like 'transition fuel' I would say are propaganda terms."

Meanwhile, the leader of the Isle of Man Green Party says extending the licence to look for gas off the coast of the Isle of Man would be a 'backwards step' at odds with the Island's climate change commitments.

Andrew Langan-Newton believes this goes against the Climate Change Bill:

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