UK Oil & Gas is disappointed by today's decision by the Isle of Wight Council's Planning Committee to refuse consent for the appraisal and testing of the Arreton oil and gas discovery. The Arreton discovery lies within the 200 km² PEDL331 licence in which UKOG holds a 95% operated interest.

Today's decision goes against last week's recommendation by the council's planning officers to approve the project. The Company will now consider its position and whether to lodge an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate.

The Company took considerable care and undertook much research to minimise the potential impacts of the A-3 site, choosing a location 300m distant from the A3056 and adjacent to land with existing non-agricultural commercial uses, namely the Wight Farm Anaerobic Digestion Energy Power Station and the Blackwater Quarry for aggregates. No objections to the development were raised by statutory consultees on environmental, drinking water, landscape or health and safety grounds.

Chief Executive Stephen Sanderson commented:
"This decision underscores UKOG's change of focus over the past year towards the international arena for oil and gas, plus its new direction into geothermal and hydrogen-based energy in the UK. In accordance with the Company's stated growth strategy, plans and evaluations are reasonably advanced in several new projects designed to grow the Company in these new areas."

KeyFacts Energy: UK Oil & Gas UK country profile