§ Sir John Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about prospecting for onshore oil and gas in the Province.
§ Mr. ViggersHydrocarbons within the area of onshore Northern Ireland are vested in the Department of Economic Development which grants licences for onshore oil and gas exploration under the Petroleum Production Act (Northern Ireland) 1964. Currently exploration work is being undertaken under licence in County Antrim near Lame and around the north and south of Lough Neagh under the supervision of two operators, Fynegold Petroleum Ltd. and North West Exploration plc At present over 1,800 sq km of Northern Ireland is licensed for oil and gas exploration.
931WIn response to an invitation which I issued earlier this year, several applications have been received for fresh licences. I hope to be in a position shortly to make an announcement about new licences once the technical and financial evaluations are completed.