Celtique Energy

Celtique Energie is involved in the exploration of oil and unconventional gas in the UK, Poland, France, Switzerland and Germany.

It wants to drill for oil and shale gas in the UK's South Downs National Park, among other areas.

The company's logo uses the strapline 'Exploring responsibly for oil & gas in Europe' and states its mission as:

By committing to operating at the highest standards and working openly with local communities, we aim to give countries the means to develop their own resources.

Proposals to drill in national parks

In September 2014 the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) recommended refusal of Celtique's application for a three-year temporary permission to drill at Nine Acre Copse, Fernhurst, situated within the national park, because it was 'not in the public interest' and the firm had failed to show 'exceptional circumstances' for drilling in the park.

Celtique's application was due to come before the planning committee on 11 September.

The Authority had stopped consideration of Celtique's application earlier in 2014 because it said 'significant details have been omitted from the applicant’s Environmental Statement”. As a result, it commissioned independent specialist advice on what the application said about noise, hydrogeology, geology, borehole integrity, well drilling and well casing and testing.

In a statement in September 2014 Celtique claimed its plans would have only 'a modest impact' on the national park:

As part of our application we have submitted a comprehensive Environmental Statement that assesses the potential environmental impacts associated with Celtique’s operations, including landscape, transport and noise, and describes in detail the steps we would take to mitigate them. We are confident in the robustness of our application and hope that the Planning Committee of the South Downs National Park Authority shares this view when they meet to decide on the application next week.

We recognise the importance of the South Downs National Park to the local community in terms of culture, heritage and economic contribution to the region, and reiterate that minerals can only be worked from where they naturally occur. The exploration well is a temporary structure that would have a modest impact on the local area during its relatively short period of operation but would conclude on behalf of DECC whether oil or gas reserves exist in this location that could contribute to the UK’s energy mix.

Appeals West Sussex county council refusal for drilling at Kirdford and Wisborough Green

In October 2014 Celtique Energie Weald Ltd and its joint investment partner Magellan Petroleum (UK) Ltd confirmed it would appeal the decision by West Sussex County Council (WSCC) to refuse planning permission for a temporary exploration well near the villages of Kirdford and Wisborough Green. The firm argued that the council's 'reasons for rejecting the application are fundamentally unsound'.

Celtique's press release stated that it would"

lodge an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate, an executive agency of the Department for Communities and Local Government, which will appoint an independent planning inspector to review WSCC’s decision. The inspector will then either make a ruling on the appeal or make a recommendation to the Secretary of State.

Financial backers

Celtique's initial seed funding 'was provided by UK investors and management and this was supplemented in 2006 by significant capital provided by a USA private equity house, Avista Capital Partners (www.avistacap.com).

The current shareholding (as of September 2014) is majority owned by Avista. Calmar LP also committed a significant investment in 2011, and other investors include the management team and the original British seed investors.

Exploration licences

Celtique holds 16 licences in five countries across Europe. Eleven are operated by Celtique, the others by partner companies, which include Egdon (operator of joint licences in the East Midlands), Union Jack, Corfe, Terrain and Magellan.

In the UK, Celtique operates in Cheshire and Southern England. A PEDL (Petroleum Exploration and Development Licence) granted by the Department of Environment & Climate Change (DECC) to explore PEDL area 231, a square shaped area covering approximately 400sq kilometres in the ‘Central Weald Basin’ includes the proposed South Downs national park.

People

• Geoff Davies, Co-founder. Previously worked as a field engineer for Schlumberger, and a petroleum engineer for Texaco and Thomson North Sea.
• Peter Bird, Chief Operating Officer
• Dr. Simon Barkham, Exploration Manager

Directors Celtique Energie Holdings

• Geoffrey Davies, director, 23 Nov 2010-
• Peter Coulson, Secretary, 15 Dec 2011-present. Also acts as Chief Financial Officer

Non-executive directors

• Christopher Pullan, director, 9 Feb 2011-
• Gregory Evans, director, 10 Mar 2011-
• John Anthony Hogan (Chairman), director, 10 Mar 2011- present. Hogan, who is a British geologist, was previously a director of ENI Oil Algeria Ltd from February 1994 until February 1999.
• Trevor Turbidy

Former directors

• Robert Cabes, director, 23 Nov 2010-27 Jan 2014
• Tilly Franklin, director, 10 Mar 2011-31 Oct 2013

Affiliated companies

• Celtique Energie Weald Limited
• Celtique Energie GmbH
• Celtique Energie Ltd
• Celtique Energie Poland Sp.z o.o.
• Celtique Energie Petroleum SARL
• Celtique Energie Petroleum Ltd
• Celtique Energie Weald Ltd

Partner companies

• Magellan Petroleum Corporation
• Union Jack
• Corfe
• Terrain

Lobbying firms

• PPS Group - (2012 - 2014)

Affiliations

• All Party Group on Unconventional Oil and Gas - managed by major lobbying firms Edelman and more recently Hill and Knowlton Strategies

Details

Registered Address

Celtique Energie Ltd

LION HOUSE, RED LION STREET

LONDON WC1R 4GB United Kingdom

Company Number 05296922. Was incorporated on 25 November 2004.

Website:

Resources

• Tim Webb, ‘Selfish and unpatriotic’: Geoff Davies takes on rich Nimbies of the South Downs, The Times, February 15 2014