DrillOrDrop’s diary of events in spring 2023 involving the UK onshore oil and gas industry and campaigns about it.

This post will be updated with new details as we get them. Please let us know about any events you think should be included.

Tuesday 7 February 2023

Candlelit vigil protest at Equinor profits. Climate campaigners to hold vigil at 7pm outside the Norwegian Embassy in central London to highlight the climate impact of Equinor’s proposed development of the Rosebank oil field off Shetland.

Wednesday 22 February 2023

Meeting of North Yorkshire County Council. The meeting is expected to debate calls to declare fracking as inappropriate in the county. The leading Conservative group has said it would not support the motions by the Lib Dems and Greens. 10.30am, County Hall, Northallerton DL7 8AD. Details

Friday 24 February 2023

Continuation of meeting of North Yorkshire County Council. See above for Wednesday 22 February 2023

Tuesday 28 February 2023

Publication of Fuel Poverty Report 2022. The report includes data on the number of households living in fuel poverty in England and projections for 2023. Link

Thursday 2 March 2023

Dunsfold/Loxley gas exploration statutory review hearing. Case brought by Protect Dunsfold, supported by the Good Law Project, and Waverley Borough Council against the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Local Government over the grant of planning permission to UK Oil & Gas. Time to be confirmed. Royal Courts of Justice, the Strand, London. Details

Closing date for government consultation on planning policy on onshore wind developments in England. It proposes that schemes will be approved only where impacts have been “satisfactorily addressed” and projects show “demonstrable local support”. Link to consultation document

Wednesday 15 March 2023

Spring budget. Houses of Parliament.

Tuesday 21 March 2023

Tax Big Oil, Divest Now! Petition hand-in at East Sussex County Council, County Hall, Lewes, BN7 1UE. March starts at Lewes Station, 8.45am. Details

Friday 24 March 2023

Divestment day of action. Nationwide actions to demand local institutions cut funds to fossil fuel companies. Targets include local government pension funds.

Wednesday 29 March 2023

Publication of Climate Change Committee’s 2023 report to parliament. The report looks at progress in adapting to climate change in England.

Surrey County Council planning committee. Possible date for decision on IGas planning application for methane production at Albury. Link to meeting agenda. 10.30am Council Chamber, Woodhatch Place, 11 Cockshot Hill, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 8EF.

Thursday 30 March 2023

IGas results for 2022 due.

Friday 31 March 2023

Deadline for government’s revised net zero strategy. The government has until today to publish a revised strategy following successful legal challenges by Friends of the Earth, Client Earth and the Good Law Project. Details.

Angus Energy annual general meeting. 11am, offices of Fladgate LLP, 16 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5DG. Details

Saturday 1 April 2023

Energy price guarantee scheme rises. The government’s financial support to limit average household bills rises from £2,500 to £3,000 a year.

Monday 17 April 2023

Decision due on IGas planning application. IGas plans for a hydrocarbon site at Glentworth, Lincolnshire, due to go before the county council’s planning committee. Link to application. Link to meeting agenda. 10.30am, Council Chamber, County Offices, Newland, Lincoln LN1 1YL.

Monday 24 April 2023

Egdon Resources publishes half-year results for the six months to 31 January 2023. Details

Wednesday 26 April 2023

Meeting of Lancashire County Council planning committee. Possible date for decision on Cuadrilla’s plans for two more years at Preston New Road fracking site. Link to meeting agenda, 10.30am, Committee Room ‘B’ – The Diamond Jubilee Room, County Hall, Preston APPLICATION NOT LISTED FOR THIS MEETING

Thursday 27 April 2023

BP AGM. 1pm, ExCel London, 1 Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London, E16 1XL

Tuesday 2 May 2023

Legal challenge over Lough Larne gas caverns. Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland and No Gas Caverns challenge plans to create seven underground caverns out of salt layers under the lough. Details

Friday 5 May 2023

UKOG agm. 8th Floor, The Broadgate Tower, 20 Primrose Street, London, EC2A 2EW. Details

Tuesday 9 May 2023

East Sussex County Council debate on fossil fuel divestment. 10am, county hall, St Anne’s Cres, Lewes BN7 1UE. Details

Closing date of Scottish Government public consultation on energy strategy and just transition plan. Details

Monday 15 May 2023

Publication of Union Jack plc annual accounts. Details

Thursday 18 May 2023

Cimate, community and coal speakers’ corner event. 12 noon, outside the Marchon site, Wilson Pit Road, Whitehaven, Cumbria. Speakers include anti-fracking campaigner Tina Rothery. Details

Monday 22 May 2023

Legal challenge over three mineral exploration licences granted in Northern Ireland to two extractive companies. Derry City and Strabane District Council are taking legal action against Northern Ireland’s Department for Economy over granting licences which allow prospecting and exploration to take place seeking mineral reserves in the Sperrin Mountains.

Tuesday 23 May 2023

Shell AGM. 10am, via Lumi electronic meeting platform and at ExCel London, 1 Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London, E16 1XL Details

Tackling climate change in the courts and on the ground. Free online event from Garden Court Chambers. 5.30pm-7.30pm. Link to details

Coming up

Wednesday 7 June 2023

Meeting of Lancashire County Council planning committee. Scheduled date for decision on Cuadrilla’s plans for two more years at Preston New Road fracking site. Link to meeting agenda, 10.30am, Committee Room ‘B’ – The Diamond Jubilee Room, County Hall, Preston.

Thursday 8 June 2023

Dunsfold statutory review hearing over government planning permission for gas exploration at UKOG’s Loxley site. Royal Courts of Justice, London WC2A 2LL. More details

Wednesday 14 June 2023

Appeal hearing for refusal of planning permission of time extension at Egdon’s North Kelsey site. 10am, Nettleton Village Hall, Moortown Road, Nettleton, Market Rasen LN7 6AA. Link to appeal website

IGas AGM. Currently no details of time or location. Company announcement

Free webinar on the public order act. 5.30pm-7pm with speakers from Garden Court Chambers and Netpol. To book and details

Thursday 15 June 2023

Appeal hearing for refusal of planning permission of time extension at Egdon’s North Kelsey site. 12.30pm, Nettleton Village Hall, Moortown Road, Nettleton, Market Rasen LN7 6AA. Link to appeal website

Sunday 18 June 2023

Shale trail – walk and talk. 6.5 mile guided countryside walk and talk from Horse Hill to Brockham to raise awareness of Surrey’s oil fields. Meet 1.30pm, Horse Hill Observation Post, A217, Horley, Surrey. Details

Monday 19 June 2023

Legal challenge over NI diesel emissions. Friends of the Earth and The Public Interest Litigation Support have been granted permission from the High Court to bring a legal challenge against Northern Ireland’s Department for Infrastructure over its failure to ensure that legally compliant diesel emissions tests are carried out at government-controlled MOT vehicle testing centres.

Wednesday 21-Thursday 22 June 2023

Supreme Court hears challenge against Horse Hill oil drilling and production. Sarah Finch takes her challenge to Surrey County Council’s planning permission at Horse Hill to the highest court in the land. Supreme Court, Little George St, London SW1P 3BD. Date to be confirmed.

Wednesday 28 June 2023

CCC annual progress report to parliament.

Dates to be confirmed

Offshore oil and gas licences. The North Sea Transition Authority is expected to award permits to companies to explore for oil and gas. Expected late June.

Cumbria coal mine special hearing. Friends of the Earth and South Lakes Action on Climate Change (SLACC) will attend a specially convened hearing to ask the High Court to allow a legal challenge over the government’s decision to grant planning permission for a new coal mine to proceed to trial.

Supreme Court challenge over UK government funding for Mozambique gas project. Friends of the Earth is waiting to see whether it will be given permission to take its legal challenge to the Supreme court over the UK government’s decision to give financial support for gas production in Mozambique.

Onshore wind decision. The government is due to make a decision on what support is given to onshore wind power. A government consultation on modifying national planning policy wording (which currently means there is a de facto ban on new onshore wind development in England) closed on 2nd March.