The Energy Safety Research Institute will be part of Swansea¡¯s new Bay Campus, which was invaded yesterday by activists.

The protesters, who were ¡°dressed as mad scientists¡± according to organisers, accessed the roof of the institute building and dropped a banner that read ¡°no fracking¡±.

A spokeswoman for Swansea said: ¡°The work carried out at ESRI will be based on our long-term strengths in this area and will include work on computational science (rock fracture modelling) and corrosion.

¡°The ESRI will focus on the safety issues surrounding the development of existing energy processes, as well as the safe deployment and integration of new green energy technologies,¡± she added.

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According to its website, the institute will be supported by the oil firm BP and Tata Steel.

One of the protesters, Jac Bastian, said in a statement: ¡°We are here today to stand with communities across Wales and the UK who are resisting their local areas becoming fracking sites.

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¡°Not only is [fracking] dangerous and unnecessary but people across the UK don¡¯t want it. If we are going to avoid dangerous climate change we need to leave unconventional gas in the ground,¡± he added.

david.matthews@tesglobal.com