Following widespread outrage at UK Oil & Gas PLC (UKOG) continuing to produce oil at Horse Hill without planning permission, we are pleased that they have now suspended operations.
But we are appalled that it took protests by Extinction Rebellion, news coverage by Drill or Drop, Channel 4 and BBC Surrey, questions from the local MP and the threat of legal action by Friends of the Earth to bring them to this conclusion.
Just last week, UKOG’s Communications Director, Brian Alexander, told Channel 4, “It’s not unlawful. We would not be doing it if it was unlawful… We are of the understanding, certainly from Surrey, that we are doing what we should be doing and we are complying with everything they tell us to do.”
Today Mr Alexander sent the following statement to the media:
Horse Hill Update
The Company is pleased to announce that after recent discussions with Surrey County Council (SCC) and in keeping with the Company’s strategic move from oil & gas into material scale clean hydrogen storage projects,* it instructed its subsidiary Horse Hill Developments Ltd (HHDL) to voluntarily suspend oil production at the Horse Hill site, effective from Friday 25th October.
Given the uniqueness of the situation following the Supreme Court’s decision to render SCC’s grant of planning permission unlawful, and far from ignoring the ruling’s implications, HHDL first contacted SCC on 20th June 2024 regarding the site’s status and to find the most pragmatic way forward to achieve the required planning redetermination. The ongoing dialogue with SCC has included multiple interactions and a site visit by SCC as recently as Wednesday 16th October. Other regulators have also been kept up to date.
It should be noted that the Supreme Court’s decision was not the result of any action, error or omission by the Company or its subsidiary, HHDL, and that HHDL has acted as a responsible operator in full regulatory compliance during the 6 years of production planning consent.
A detailed plan for a safe full suspension of related operations and activities, including the necessary safe emptying and cleaning of storage tanks, flow lines and other process equipment, will be implemented following SCC’s concurrence. In the interim period HHDL will work with SCC to provide all necessary additional information to facilitate a successful planning redetermination.
[Statement ends]
*UKOG’s claim to be moving into “clean hydrogen storage plans” is highly speculative and seems to be reliant on government subsidies they are unlikely to receive, as their plans don’t match the government criteria. Read more
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