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Public urged to respond to plans for barite mine near Loch Tummel

The Duntanlich project would replace the Foss mine.
The Duntanlich project would replace the Foss mine.

The public will get the chance to scrutinise plans for a multi-million-pound barite mine at a Perthshire beauty spot.

Oil field services firm M-I SWACO a subsidiary of Schlumberger will unveil its proposed Duntanlich development to residents this month.

The project, on the northern slopes of the Farragon Ridge, above Loch Tummel, would replace its current mine at Foss.

The developer said the new site could produce enough barite principally used as a weighting agent for drilling fluids to meet the needs of Britain’s oil and gas industry for the next 50 years.

Project manager Ian Hughes said: “It is clearly early days in the community engagement process, which these events are part of, and we look forward to meeting members of the public, informing them what is happening and answering any queries they may have.

“This is a project that will have a significant, positive, local economic impact, diversifying the economy of this rural area where employment is reliant on tourism and forestry.”

The first public consultation session will be held at Mid Atholl Hall, Ballinluig, on Tuesday February 17 from noon to 8.30pm.

Follow-up events will take place at Aberfeldy Town Hall at the same time on Thursday February 19 and the New Fishers Hotel, Pitlochry, from 1pm to 8.30pm on Wednesday February 25. Exhibition boards will be set-up to outline the scheme and experts will be on hand to answer questions.

If approved, the Duntanlich development could create 30 jobs, as well as indirect work for local suppliers.

A planning application is likely to be submitted in the coming weeks and, if successful, the mine could be up and running towards the end of 2017.