The UK’s largest shale gas company has hired a new boss ahead of plans to drill ten test wells in the UK despite mounting opposition against the controversial technique.

Ineos, the chemicals giant built by billionaire industrialist Jim Ratcliffe, has promoted Ron Coyle to the role of chief executive of Ineos Shale in what the group calls a “significant step change" in Ineos Shale's drive to conquer the UK market.

Mr Coyle, who joined the Ineos Phenol business almost twenty years ago, said he is looking forward to taking the final steps to establish Ineos as one of the largest natural gas producers in the UK.

“This is a very exciting opportunity for me and I am keen to get started,” he said. Mr Coyle is replacing Gary Haywood, who is retiring.

The company said it will begin drilling its test wells “shortly”. Once the data from these tests has been analysed, the company will move to full production.

Ineos is facing mounting opposition to its shale plans, which employ hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, to recover gas trapped between layers of underground shale rock.

The company won an injunction against activists who use unlawful protest methods over the summer. The case was viewed as a major escalation of tensions between the shale industry and environmental protestors.