Europa, Partners Suffers Setback for Weald Basin Drilling

Surrey County Councillors have refused planning permission to Europa Oil & Gas Ltd. for its proposed Holmwood-1 exploration well in the Weald Basin onshore UK.

Europa (as operator) has a 40% operating interest with partners Egdon Resources (40%) and Warwick Energy (20%).

Europa said that the combination of the very close voting result and the recommendation by the Planning Officers to allow the drilling, following an exhaustive review of the application, gives the Directors and partners sufficient justification to appeal this decision on the grounds that the decision to refuse was not made purely on the facts of the case.

Managing Director of Europa, Paul Barrett, said "We believe the proposal submitted to the Council was technically strong, fully supported by the County's own Planning Officers and as such the refusal is thought likely to be overturned on appeal."

Source: Europa Oil & Gas