Cuadrilla Stops Balcombe Drilling Operations Ahead of Protests (UK)

After taking advice from Sussex Police, Cuadrilla is temporarily scaling back drilling operations ahead of Balcombe ‘No Dash for Gas Action Camp0’ protests. During this time, company’s main concern is the safety of their staff, Balcombe’s residents and the protesters following threats of direct action against the exploration site. Cuadrilla says they plan to resume full operations as soon as it is safe to do so.

Cuadrilla says they appreciate Balcombe Parish Council’s decision to explain that the company’s operations are entirely legal and that the village has neither invited No Dash for Gas nor condones any illegal actions its supporters may commit.

Cuadrilla’s CEO Francis Egan said: “Cuadrilla’s exploration work at Balcombe involves drilling a conventional oil well. External groups protesting against hydraulic fracturing at Balcombe do so without any work proposal from Cuadrilla to judge. Any hydraulic fracturing proposal would require a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment, public consultations and multi-agency regulatory reviews, all of which would be available for scrutiny.”

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LNG World News Staff, August 19, 2013