Updated: MP calls for Balcombe oil licence to be withdrawn over water contamination fears
The government has been urged to withdraw the licence for oil operations at Balcombe in West Sussex because of the risk of water pollution.
Ruth Hayhurst
Investigative journalist and environmental writer. Specialising in UK onshore oil and gas, fracking and the reaction to it.
Biscathorpe oil scheme heads for inquiry
Controversial proposals by Egdon Resources to produce oil in the Lincolnshire Wolds are due to be decided by a full planning inquiry.
“Legal loophole” could prompt multiple fracking plans, MP warns
Oil and gas companies will “pile in” with fracking plans all over the country to exploit a legal loophole if a North Yorkshire scheme gets the go-ahead, a Labour MP has warned.
Official petition to ban all fracking tops 10,000
An official online petition calling for a ban on all forms of fracking has passed an important milestone.
Minister should apologise over fracking claim – residents
Residents in a North Yorkshire village where there are plans for lower-volume fracking have called on the energy minister to apologise over claims he made about the process.
Minister challenged over “misleading” fracking claims
An environmental campaigner is challenging the government over what he says are “misleading” and “inaccurate” claims about the controversial issue of fracking.
UK onshore oil and gas production in figures and charts – July 2025
UK onshore gas production fell to its lowest level in July 2025 since November 2023.
Delayed UKOG accounts reveal £35m cut in value of oil assets
Long-awaited annual accounts for UK Oil & Gas plc show a £35m drop in the value of the company’s oil and gas assets.
Government to block new onshore oil and gas licences and ban fracking
No new onshore oil and gas licences will be issued in England, the government announced today. The news followed a speech to the Labour conference in which the energy secretary confirmed his commitment to ban fracking.
Europa responds to permit consultation comments
Europa Oil & Gas, the company behind plans to carry out lower-volume fracking at Burniston in North Yorkshire, contacted DrillOrDrop today about our article which reported on a response to a public consultation.
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