Keep up to date with August 2023’s news with our digest of daily updated headlines about the business, regulation and campaigns around UK fracking, shale, and onshore oil and gas.

Click here for headlines from previous months. Please let us know if we’ve missed something important  contact@DrillOrDrop.com

Thursday 31 August 2023

Controversial former fracking pad that divided a North Yorkshire community revealed as pioneer for geothermal energy production. DrillOrDrop report. Also reported by the Yorkshire Post (30/8/23)

Artificial lift aims to boost oil production at Wressle. DrillOrDrop report on work underway to increase pressure within the reservoir at the UK’s newest oil production site at Wressle.

Claire Coutinho appointed new energy and net zero secretary. DrillOrDrop report

Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland and No Gas Caverns lose legal challenge over Larne Lough gas cavern plans. Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland director, James Orr, described the judgement as “incredibly disappointing for our environment and the local community who have fought so tirelessly against this hugely destructive scheme”. Friends of the Earth press release

UK households to be paid to cut electricity use for a second winter. The FT reports the National Grid will pay British households and businesses to cut their power consumption during peak hours this winter, in an extension of the voluntary “demand flexibility service” that was employed last winter, 

Wednesday 30 August 2023

Cuadrilla earned nothing for its Australian owner in 2023 but spent $2.4m – annual accounts. DrillOrDrop report on AJ Lucas accounts to the end of June 2023.

Tuesday 29 August 2023

East Yorkshire drilling delayed again – to 2024. DrillOrDrop report on postponed plans to drill a horizontal well at the West Newton-B wellsite in Holderness.

Star Energy buys into Croatian geothermal business. DrillOrDrop reports on an acquisition by the renamed shale company, IGas.

Acquisition by Petrichor Partners of Egdon Resources satisfies NSTA condition. Egdon Resources announces the North Sea Transition Authority condition over the acquisition by Petrichor has been satisfied. Other conditions have yet to be met. A sanction hearing is expected to take place on 12 September 2023, the company said.

Monday 28 August 2023

Oil and gas opponents add voice to campaign against Cumbrian coal mine. DrillOrDrop report on a protest against the new Whitehaven coal mine joined by campaigners from Weald Action Group in southern England.

Friday 25 August 2023

Go-ahead for production and new drilling at West Newton-A. DrillOrDrop report on granting for a variation to the environmental permit for the West Newton-A site, allowing production and new wells.

Wednesday 23 August 2023

Two-Thirds of Conservative Endowment Fund Directors Are Linked to Fossil Fuels and Polluting Industries. DeSmog reports two-thirds of the directors who run the Conservative Party’s multi-million-pound endowment fund have interests in fossil fuel firms or polluting industries

Thursday 17 August 2023

Photo post: Boomtown protest against Avington oil production. DrillOrDrop report on opposition to plans to resume oil production at the Star Energy site at Avington in the South Downs National Park.

UN climate summit host UAE failed to report methane emissions to UN. The Guardian reports that the United Arab Emirates, which will run Cop28 in December, has failed to report its methane emissions to the UN for almost a decade. The country’s state oil company, Adnoc, whose chief executive, Sultan Al Jaber, will preside over the climate summit, has also set itself a methane leak target far higher than the level it claims it has already reached.

Wednesday 16 August 2023

Inflation slows to 6.8% in July as energy prices fall but further interest rate rise likely. Reports by the FT, BBC News and others.

Rishi Sunak rules out net zero referendum. The Telegraph says the prime minister has ruled out a referendum on net zero, despite calls from his party to give the public a vote on the 2050 climate target.

Public concern over climate change jumps sharply amid summer of record heat. The Independent reports on the latest Ipsos Issues Index, which found one in four Britons (25%) see the environment as an important issue for the country, up by 13 percentage points since July, 

Tuesday 15 August 2023

Star Energy selling two potential drilling sites in Cheshire. DrillOrDrop report on sale details for two plots near Chester and the closure of licence PEDL190.

Monday 14 August 2023

We’ll lose seats if Rishi Sunak dilutes net zero, warn blue wall Tories. The Times reports the K prime minister Rishi Sunak is “facing a backlash from blue wall Tory MPs who have said that he will cost them their seats at the next election if he panders to the right of the party on climate change and human rights commitments”.

UK homes install ‘record number’ of solar panels and heat pumps. The Guardian reports British households are making more green energy upgrades than ever before after installing a record number of solar panels and heat pumps in the first half of the year, according to the industry’s official standards body, MSC.

Net zero hopes are a fantasy without serious grid reform. CityAm reports on findings by the electricity networks commissioner, Nick Winser, that expose a historic challenge for the government and energy sector.

Sunday 13 August 2023

Now we are 10. The 10th birthday of DrillOrDrop and its predecessor InvestigatingBalcombeAndCuadrilla. The first post, on 13 August 2013, said the site would “seek answers to questions and question the answers given by all sides on the issue of fracking”. In the following week, the site reported on bail conditions imposed on Balcombe protesters, lifting of protest restrictions, timelines, who’s who in fracking, relations between Cuadrilla and police at Balcombe and the Reclaim The Power camp.

Call for clarity as Ineos accused of falsifying flaring record. The National reprints an article by The Ferret, which reveals that Ineos has been accused of falsifying a record and flaring gas from a chemical plant at Grangemouth in breach of multiple pollution rules.

Corfe Energy changes name. Corfe Energy Limited has formally changed its name to Tetra Energy UK Onshore Ltd.

Author walks out of Edinburgh book festival over sponsor’s fossil fuel links. The Guardian reports that activist and author Mikaela Loach walked out at the Edinburgh International Book festival in protest at the sponsor, Baillie Gifford’s links to fossil fuel companies. She was one of 50 authors to sign an open letter calling on the festival organisers to dissociate themselves from sponsor investing in fossil fuels.

Friday 11 August 2023

Global oil demand hits record and may rise further, says International Energy Agency. The FT reports analysis by the IEA which found global oil demand has hit a record and may rise further in August, threatening to prolong a recent rally in crude prices.

UK asked to obtain assurances from UAE over right to protest at COP28. The FT says British human rights barristers have written to the foreign secretary James Cleverly this week demanding he seek an undertaking from the Emirati authorities affirming the rights and safety of UK citizens travelling to the UAE to engage in peaceful demonstrations.

MPs Gifted £4,200 Tennis Tickets by Oil Giant BP. DeSmog reports BP donated tennis tickets worth a total of more than £4,200 to a government minister and two MPs, parliamentary records reveal. 

Thursday 10 August 2023

Horse Hill legal challenge delays court date for Cumbrian coal mine case. DrillOrDrop report

Leaders must act on ‘dire’ threat to planet, says UN climate chief. The Times reports comments by Prof Jim Skea, the UK climate scientist who was recently elected chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). He tells the paper leaders are failing to connect extreme events with debates about policies to cut CO2 emissions.

Sunak government will go down in history as failing UK on climate, Greenpeace says. The Guardian reports comments by the heads of Greenpeace that the Rishi Sunak government will go down in history” as the administration that failed the UK on the climate crisis while ministers pursued a dangerous culture war. The organisation’s joint executive directors described government briefings against the organisation in the wake of its oil protest at the prime minister’s Yorkshire home as “really dark stuff”.

Tory Theresa Villiers had £70,000 of secret shares in oil giant while Environment Secretary. The Mirror reports that former cabinet minister Theresa Villiers owned more than £70,000 worth of secret shares in oil giant Shell throughout her time as Environment Secretary.

The truth is Tory voters are onboard for net zero. What’s really worrying them is how we get there. Sam Hall, director of Conservative Environment Network, writing the Guardian, says the case for environmental action is clear, but there are fears about personal freedom and who will bear the financial burden.

Zac Goldsmith is ‘very tempted’ to support Labour at next election. BBC News reports comments by Zac Goldsmith, who left government over its alleged climate change apathy, said he is very tempted to back Labour.

No global security without net zero, Grant Shapps warns Tories. Politico reports comments by the UK energy secretary that there an be no global security unless the world hits its climate targets/

Wednesday 9 August 2023

Breaking: Cuadrilla ordered to abandon Lancashire fracked wells. DrillOrDrop report of plug and abandonment order from the North Sea Transition Authority. Also reported by BBC News, Lancashire Evening Post and Energy Portal.eu (all 11/8/23)

“Goodbye and good riddance” – campaigners react to order to plug Cuadrilla’s fracked wells near Blackpool. DrillOrDrop report

Tuesday 8 August 2023

July was the planet’s hottest month on record. The Times reports on observations from the EU’s Earth observation scheme Copernicus.

Guest post: How Ukraine could emerge from war as a climate leader. A report for Carbonbrief by researchers at Oxford and Ukrainian universities suggests Ukraine will have a rare chance after the war to reshape economic foundations, shifting to lower carbon sectors.

UK oil boiler ban could be watered down. The Telegraph reports that, following its own frontpage story and “a backlash from Conservative MPs”, government sources have suggested that a 2026 ban on new oil boilers in off-grid homes “could be watered down”. It says boilers may be allowed, “as long as they run on greener fuels” with “an acceptance within the government that heat pumps will not be suitable for all homes”. 

Monday 7 August 2023

Cuadrilla pulls back from another licence. DrillOrDrop report on Cuadrilla’s plan to give up operation of a Yorkshire licence.

Wressle oil well producing water. DrillOrDrop report on Egdon Resources’ announcement that the UK’s news producing oilfield is also producing water for the first time.

France becomes Europe’s top energy exporter as British demand surges. The Telegraph reports that France has become Europe’s top energy exporter amid a surge in UK demand.

Tory revolt against ‘premature’ net zero ban on new oil boilers. The Telegraph reports Rishi Sunak urged to scrap looming restriction for off-grid homes as Conservatives fear rural backlash.

Greenpeace: Government cuts ties with group after protest at PM’s home. BBC News reports No. 10 has said government departments should cut ties with Greenpeace in the wake of last week’s protest at Rishi Sunak’s home.

Sunday 6 August 2023

Just Stop Oil North Sea drilling demands “contemptible”, says Sir Kier Starmer. The Labour leader, writing in the Times, appears to distance himself from Just Stop Oil by criticising its call to immediately cease drilling for oil and gas as “contemptible”.

Friday 4 August 2023

Greenpeace activists released on bail after scaling roof of Rishi Sunak’s North Yorkshire home. Sky News reports North Yorkshire Police, who have come under criticism following the incident at the prime minister’s mansion, said their investigation “remains ongoing” after releasing five anti-oil activists on bail.

Thursday 3 August 2023

The fight goes on – Surrey villagers continue their challenge against government over gas drilling. DrillOrDrop report that Protect Dunsfold is to seek permission to take its fight to the Court of Appeal.

Climbers drape Sunak’s £2m mansion in oil-black fabric as PM commits to fossil fuel frenzy. Greenpeace reports that its activists have climbed onto the roof of Rishi Sunak’s £2m country mansion in protest at his backing for a major expansion of oil and gas drilling amid a climate crisis.

Drax “gamed energy crisis for £600m”. The Times reports that the energy firm, Drax, has been accused of costing consumers more than £600m by choosing not to run its biomass power plant unit during periods when the price it would have been paid to generate electricity dropped below market prices during the energy crisis

Wednesday 2 August 2023

UK onshore oil and gas production in charts – May 2023. DrillOrDrop report on findings from the latest monthly data, including extraction from the UK’s largest onshore gasfield is up 50% reaching record levels since last year.

We asked the British public what they really think about net zero – here’s what we found. The Conversation reports findings from the consultancy Thinks, which found the public consistently identifies the government as the key player in leading the transition to net zero. Yet even before its recent shift in rhetoric, people did not think the government was stepping up to this role.

Energy bosses at No 10 summit warn investor confidence is waning. The Guardian reports that  bosses behind Britain’s multibillion-pound clean energy rollout have warned the government that the UK’s difficult economic circumstances and political uncertainty have taken a toll on investor confidence.

Rishi Sunak came to Scotland offering more North Sea drilling and carbon capture. We reject both. Mary Church, of Friends of the Earth Scotland, writing in the Guardian, says the PM “clearly hasn’t grasped the opposition to his climate denial or the extent to which big oil has alienated people here”.

BP invested 11 times more money into oil and gas than renewables, analysis shows. The i newspaper reports the oil giant claims 30% of its investing budget goes to ‘transition growth engines’, but it recently ditched a target to reduce its oil output

Tuesday 1 August 2023

This government’s energy policy will keep the lights on, heat our homes – and bring down your bills. Energy secretary Grant Shapps, writing the Telegraph, says “under this Conservative government, the North Sea will continue to be a central part of our energy security, which is why we’ve announced plans to unlock hundreds of new oil and gas licences”, adding that “continued licencing rounds will become the new normal because just stopping oil makes zero sense”. 

Now put the brake on petrol car ban, PM. The Daily Mail leader says the prime minister has quickly learned the lesson from the Uxbridge by-election: The public supports the worthy ambition to eliminate emissions – but not at any price.

‘Climate meltdown’: Scientists implore government to rethink approval for new fossil fuel projects. Business Green reports more than 600 scientists write to Rishi Sunak in protest at recent watering down of climate policies, as Ministers prepare to meet with oil and gas industry bosses.

Billionaire investor threatens to pull out of UK amid global outcry at new oil rush. The Guardian reports that the  billionaire Australian mining tycoon and investor Andrew Forrest has led international condemnation of the UK’s new oil rush, saying he would pull his major investment from the country if the prime minister pursued “clickbait” fossil fuel policies.