LONDON (Alliance News) - InfraStrata PLC on Friday said it continues to progress with its drilling programme at the Woodburn forest project in Northern Ireland, as a County Antrim council brought to court over the project prepares to make a decision in the wake of complaints.
The BBC reported on Thursday that Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is the subject of the legal challenge, and that the case was brought by a local resident. In addition, a decision about the complaints will be made on Monday and issued by Tuesday, the report said.
In a statement Friday, InfraStrata said that a further request by the individual to seek an injunction to stop the drilling "has not been pursued".
InfraStrata said it "continues to progress with its drilling programme and will update the market as necessary."
"The company has no further information on the matter at this stage, although it is aware of ongoing protest regarding the site. The local authority and other agencies have been and are addressing complaints from the individual and protesters regarding the company's operations on the site and the company has provided all possible co-operation in that respect. InfraStrata has all of the required statutory approvals and consents to drill the well and will continue to comply with these and ensure that the operations are safe and the environment is protected," the company said in a statement.
The BBC said that Stop the Drill campaigners are seeking an injunction to stop InfraStrata from going ahead with exploratory oil drilling close to a reservoir that supplies drinking water to thousands of homes.
Baron Oil PLC, which stands to earn a 10% interest in the PL1/10 licence following a farmout agreement announced in January, said the drilling of the well is expected to commence in May.
Shares in InfraStrata were down 3.6% at 2.29 pence on Friday.
By Samuel Agini; samagini@alliancenews.com; @samuelagini
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