The company which intends to burn coal under the seabed off the coast of Scotland has picked an environment consultant to help with planning consent.

Cluff Natural Resources said today this is “an important step” for commercialising its plans for underground coal gasification (UCG).

It believes there is 335 million tonnes of coal under the sea which it intends to burn in its place and then pipe up to the surface as a gas.

The firm appointed, Environmental Resources Management, has advised oil companies such as Tullow Oil on offshore oil exploration in Ghana, Anglo-Dutch firm Shell on biofuels work in Brazil and Unilever, which owns big brand names such as Dove, Walls ice cream and Knorr, on its sustainability audits.

The Kincardine project under the Firth of Forth is controversial. One Green MSP said last year she feared it would show Scotland’s coast is “up for grabs”, while environmental group WWF called it “irresponsible”.