A MORATORIUM on fracking should be lifted and the controversial gas extraction method given the green light, according the the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

The party reversed its policy on the issue, having voted in 2013 to back a temporary fracking ban. The decision was taken in light of a 2014 report on the topic, commissioned by the Scottish Government, which concluded that fracking could be carried out safely if robust regulation is in place.

Under the new position, gas extracted through fracking, a process that sees a mixture of water, sand and chemicals pumped deep underground at high pressure to fracture shale rock and release gas, would primarily be used as a feedstock for the petrochemical industry rather than an energy source.

The shift is likely to be welcomed by chemicals giant Ineos, which is hoping to persuade the Scottish Government to lift its moratorium so that fracked gas from central Scotland could be used as a feedstock, or raw material, at its sprawling Grangemouth plant.

The SNP has said it plans to continue a moratorium until 2017, when Nicola Sturgeon will take a decision over whether to lift it or back a permanent ban following a fresh round of evidence gathering and a public consultation.

At the LibDem conference, the SNP was accused of playing politics with the issue. One delegate said "scaremongering" had surrounded the debate over fracking and that the party should be led by evidence.

He added: "The evidence suggests that provided there is a strong regulatory framework in place it is as safe as any form of energy extraction. Almost all of the attacks against fracking in the media and the United States have been relatively ill-founded. A number of the problems attributed to fracking had been there before people started to frack."

One the first day of the two-day Spring conference, a motion put forward by former leader Tavish Scott had advocated maintaining the moratorium, brought in early last year.

However, Ewan Hoyle, who came fifth as the LibDem candidate in the Glasgow South seat at the last general election, persuaded members to back a u-turn by supporting his amendment.

It advocates "Lifting the moratorium on planning and licensing for unconventional oil and gas extraction, granting the potential for Scottish-sourced unconventional gas to supply our important petrochemical industry."

The revised policy is now likely to be included in the party's manifesto for the upcoming Holyrood elections, Scottish Lib Dem sources confirmed. The Tories overtly back fracking, the Greens are opposed, Labour's policy is to have local referendums before developments get the go-ahead while the SNP remains on the fence.

A bid by grassroots SNP members to have a ban on fracking discussed at their Spring conference was recently blocked by a ruling party committee, following a fractious debate last Autumn.

Responding to the LibDems' decision, Green co-convenor Patrick Harvie said: "This is a classic Lib Dem guddle, and will leave many of their remaining supporters even more disillusioned. Just days ago Willie Rennie told an audience in Glasgow that his party would try to ban fracking even though they agreed to back fracking at their conference three years ago; now he’ll have to campaign for the moratorium to be lifted.

"Scotland can ban fracking and coal gasification now with the powers we have and only the Scottish Greens have consistently called for a permanent ban to protect our communities and our climate. With the Scottish Government failing to rule it out, and Labour continuing to sit on the fence, it is clear that more Green voices are needed at Holyrood to kill off this dangerous distraction so Scotland can invest in sustainable industries to create the jobs of the future."