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  • Closed consultation Onshore petroleum licensing policy

    Topics:
    • Minerals and Petroleum, 
    • Minerals and Petroleum licensing for exploration and extraction

    Consultation closed Consultation opened 15 January 2024, 1.45 pm and closed 12 April 2024, 5.00 pm

    Summary

    This consultation seeks views on the proposed policy for onshore petroleum licensing in Northern Ireland.

    Documents

    • Onshore petroleum licensing policy for Northern Ireland consultation Adobe PDF (2 MB)
    • Hatch Regeneris report - the potential economic, social and environmental impact of onshore petroleum development in Northern Ireland Adobe PDF (3 MB)
    • British Geological Survey: Potential risks of induced seismicity from high volume hydraulic fracturing of shales in Northern Ireland Adobe PDF (3 MB)
    • Onshore petroleum licensing policy consultation - draft rural needs impact assessment Adobe PDF (404 KB)

    Help viewing documents

    Consultation description

    This consultation sets out four policy options with a preferred option to introduce a moratorium and eventual legislative ban on all forms of onshore petroleum exploration and production in Northern Ireland. This position has been reached following a review of onshore petroleum licensing policy by the Department for the Economy.

    The consultation document provides details on the background to this issue, the rationale for the preferred option and seeks your views on the way forward. On this page you can access independent research on the impacts of petroleum exploration and production in Northern Ireland, research on the risks of induced seismicity from high volume hydraulic fracturing of shales in Northern Ireland and the relevant impact assessments for the proposed future policy.

    Ways to respond

    Consultation closed — responses are no longer being accepted.

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