AQW 9037/11-15


Mr Mike Nesbitt
Ulster Unionist Party
Strangford


Tabled Date: 29/02/2012
Answered On Date: 12/03/2012
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (i) what exploratory licences have been granted by her Department and by the Crown Estate for exploration for natural minerals and other assets; (ii) what minerals and assets these exploratory licences cover; and (iii) what percentage of land mass is currently subject to exploratory licences.


Answer:
The information requested is as follows.
Mineral Prospecting Licences (MPLs) are awarded for an initial two-year period with the option for a first extension of two years and a final second extension for another two years.
Petroleum Licences (PLs) are granted for an initial period of five years.
Licences Issued: April 2000 - March 2001
MINERAL PROSPECTING LICENCES
Name of Company Ballymoney Power Ltd
MPL ref no. MM9 /98
Date Licence issued 1998
Extensions 1st 30.06.00
CommodityLignite
Name of Company Conroy Diamonds & Gold PLC
MPL ref no. C1 /96
Date Licence issued 1996
Extensions 2nd 13.10.00
Name of Company Conroy Diamonds & Gold PLC
MPL ref no. C2 /96
Date Licence issued 1996
Extensions 2nd 13.10.00
PETROLEUM LICENCES
Name of Company Evergreen Resources Inc
PL ref no. PL1 /00
Date Licence issued 01.07.96
Name of Company Evergreen Resources Inc
PL ref no.PL2 /00
Date Licence issued 01.07.96
Name of Company Evergreen Resources Inc
PL ref no. PL3 /00
Date Licence issued 01.07.96
Name of Company Evergreen Resources Inc
PL ref no. PL7 /00
Date Licence issued 01.07.96
Issued: April 2001 - March 2002
MINERAL PROSPECTING LICENCES
Name of Company Omagh Minerals Ltd
MPL ref no. OM2 /97
Date Licence issued 1997
Extensions 2nd:18.07.01
Name of Company Ulster Minerals Ltd
MPL ref no. UM1 /02
Date Licence issued 2002
Extensions
Name of Company Ulster Minerals Ltd
MPL ref no.UM2 /02
Date Licence issued 2002
Extensions
PETROLEUM LICENCES
Name of Company Antrim Resources (NI) Ltd
PL ref no. PL1 /01
Date Licence issued 17.10.01
Issued: April 2002 - March 2003
MINERAL PROSPECTING LICENCES
Name of Company Antrim Coal Co. Ltd
MPL ref no. AC4 /97
Date Licence issued 1997
Extensions 2nd: 01.06.02
CommodityLignite
Name of Company Belmore Resources
MPL ref no. BR1 /02
Date Licence issued 08.11.02
Extensions
Name of Company Belmore Resources
MPL ref no. BR2 /02
Date Licence issued 08.11.02
Extensions
Name of Company Ballymoney Power Ltd.
MPL ref no. MM9 /98
Date Licence issued 1998
Extensions2nd: 30.06.02
CommodityLignite
Name of Company Conroy Diamonds & Gold PLC
MPL ref no. C1 /02
Date Licence issued 14.10.02
Extensions
Name of Company Conroy Diamonds & Gold PLC
MPL ref no. C2 /02
Date Licence issued 14.10.02
Extensions
Name of Company Conroy Diamonds & Gold PLC
MPL ref no. C3 /02
Date Licence issued 14.10.02
Extensions
Issued: April 2003 – March 2004
MINERAL PROSPECTING LICENCES
Name of Company Tournigan Gold Corporation
MPL ref no. TG1 /03
Date Licence issued24.04.03
ExtensionsN/A
Name of Company Tournigan Gold Corporation
MPL ref no. TG2 /03
Date Licence issued 24.04.03
ExtensionsN/A
Name of Company Tournigan Gold Corporation
MPL ref no.TG3 /03
Date Licence issued 24.04.03
ExtensionsN/A
Name of Company Tournigan Gold Corporation
MPL ref no.TG4 /03
Date Licence issued 24.04.03
ExtensionsN/A
Name of Company Omagh Minerals Limited
MPL ref no.OM1 /03
Date Licence issued 18.07.03
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Ulster Minerals Limited
MPL ref no.UM1 /02
Date Licence issued2002
Extensions 1st: 02.01.04
Name of Company Ulster Minerals Limited
MPL ref no.UM2 /02
Date Licence issued2002
Extensions1st: 02.01.04
Issued: April 2004 – March 2005
MINERAL PROSPECTING LICENCES
Name of Company Tournigan Gold Corporation
MPL ref no.TG5 /04
Date Licence issued01.09.04.
ExtensionsN/A
Name of Company Conroy Diamonds and Gold Plc
MPL ref no.C1 /02
Date Licence issued 2002
Extensions1st: 14.10.04
Name of Company Conroy Diamonds and Gold Plc
MPL ref no.C2 /02
Date Licence issued 2002
Extensions1st: 14.10.04
Name of Company Conroy Diamonds and Gold Plc
MPL ref no.C3 /02
Date Licence issued 2002
Extensions1st: 14.10.04
Name of Company Belmore Resources Limited
MPL ref no.BR2 /02
Date Licence issued 2002
Extensions 1st: 08.11.04
PETROLEUM LICENCES
Name of Company Finavera Ltd
PL ref no.FL1 /04
Date Licence issued 01.12.04
Name of Company Connaught Energy
PL ref no.CE1 /04
Date Licence issued 31.12.04
Name of Company Connaught Energy
PL ref no.CE2 /04
Date Licence issued 31.12.04
Issued: April 2005 - March 2006
MINERAL PROSPECTING LICENCES
Name of Company Tournigan Gold Corporation
MPL ref no.TG1 /03
Date Licence issued2003.
Extensions1st: 04.04.05
Name of Company Tournigan Gold Corporation
MPL ref no.TG2 /03
Date Licence issued2003
Extensions1st: 04.04.05
Name of Company Tournigan Gold Corporation
MPL ref no.TG3 /03
Date Licence issued2003
Extensions1st: 04.04.05
Name of Company Tournigan Gold Corporation
MPL ref no.TG4 /03
Date Licence issued2003
Extensions1st: 04.04.05
Name of Company Omagh Minerals Limited
MPL ref no.OM1 /03
Date Licence issued2003
Extensions1st: 18.07.05
Name of Company Conroy Diamonds and Gold Plc
MPL ref no.C1 /02
Date Licence issued 2002
Extensions2nd: 14.10.05
Name of Company Conroy Diamonds and Gold Plc
MPL ref no.C2 /02
Date Licence issued 2002
Extensions2nd: 14.10.05
Name of Company Conroy Diamonds and Gold Plc
MPL ref no.C3 /02
Date Licence issued 2002
Extensions2nd: 14.10.05
Name of Company Belmore Resources Limited
MPL ref no.BR2 /02
Date Licence issued 2002
Extensions 2nd: 08.11.05
Lapses N/A
Name of Company Ulster Minerals Limited
MPL ref no.UM1 /02
Date Licence issued2002
Extensions2nd: 02.01.06
Name of Company Ulster Minerals Limited
MPL ref no.UM2 /02
Date Licence issued2002
Extensions2nd: 02.01.06
Issued: April 2006 – March 2007
MINERAL PROSPECTING LICENCES
Name of Company Irish Salt Mine and Exploration Co. Ltd.
MPL ref no.ISME1 /06
Date Licence issued31.08.06
ExtensionsN/A
CommoditySalt
Name of Company Conroy Diamonds and Gold Plc
MPL ref no.C4 /07
Date Licence issued 15.01.07
ExtensionsN/A
Name of Company Conroy Diamonds and Gold Plc
MPL ref no.C5 /07
Date Licence issued 15.01.07
ExtensionsN/A
Issued: April 2007 – March 2008
MINERAL PROSPECTING LICENCES
Name of CompanyMetallum Exploration Ltd
MPL ref no.MR4 /07
Date Licence issued01.12.07
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Metallum Exploration Ltd
MPL ref no.MR5 /07
Date Licence issued 01.12.07
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Metallum Exploration Ltd
MPL ref no. MR6 /07
Date Licence issued 01.12.07
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Metallum Exploration Ltd
MPL ref no. MR9 /07
Date Licence issued 01.12.07
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Metallum Exploration Ltd
MPL ref no. MR10 /07
Date Licence issued 01.12.07
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Metallum Exploration Ltd
MPL ref no. MR11 /07
Date Licence issued 01.12.07
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Antrim Resources Plc
MPL ref no. AR1 /08
Date Licence issued 01.01.08
Extensions N/A
CommoditySalt
Name of Company Dalradian Gold Ltd
MPL ref no. DG1 /08
Date Licence issued 01.01.08
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Dalradian Gold Ltd
MPL ref no. DG2 /08
Date Licence issued 01.01.08
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Lonmin Plc
MPL ref no. Lon1 /08
Date Licence issued 01.01.08
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Lonmin Plc
MPL ref no. Lon2 /08
Date Licence issued 01.01.08
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Lonmin Plc
MPL ref no. Lon3 /08
Date Licence issued 01.01.08
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Lonmin Plc
MPL ref no. Lon4 /08
Date Licence issued 01.01.08
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Lonmin Plc
MPL ref no. Lon5 /08
Date Licence issued 01.01.08
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Lonmin Plc
MPL ref no. Lon6 /08
Date Licence issued 01.01.08
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Lonmin Plc
MPL ref no. Lon7 /08
Date Licence issued 01.01.08
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Lonmin Plc
MPL ref no. Lon8 /08
Date Licence issued 01.01.08
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Lonmin Plc
MPL ref no. Lon9 /08
Date Licence issued 01.01.08
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Portland Gas (NI) Ltd
MPL ref no. PG1 /07
Date Licence issued 01.01.08
ExtensionsN/A
CommoditySalt
Lapses
Name of Company Belmore Resources Limited
MPL ref no..BR2 /02
Revoked
Issued April 2008 – March 2009
MINERAL PROSPECTING LICENCES
Name of Company Omagh Minerals Ltd
MPL ref no. OM2 /08
Date Licence issued 01.05.08
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Omagh Minerals Ltd
MPL ref no. OM3 /08
Date Licence issued 01.05.08
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Lonmin Plc
MPL ref no. LON10 /08
Date Licence issued 01.06.08
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Lonmin Plc
MPL ref no. LON11 /08
Date Licence issued 01.06.08
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Metallum Exploration Ltd
MPL ref no. MR1 /08
Date Licence issued 01.06.08
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Bord Gais Network
MPL ref no. BG1 /08
Date Licence issued 01.09.08
Extensions N/A
CommoditySalt
Name of Company Metallum Exploration Ltd
MPL ref no. MR2 /08
Date Licence issued 01.11.08
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Metallum Exploration Ltd
MPL ref no. MR3 /08
Date Licence issued 01.11.08
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Metallum Exploration Ltd
MPL ref no. MR8 /08
Date Licence issued 01.11.08
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Metallum Exploration Ltd
MPL ref no. MR12 /08
Date Licence issued 01.11.08
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Metallum Exploration Ltd
MPL ref no. MR13 /08
Date Licence issued 01.11.08
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Metallum Exploration Ltd
MPL ref no. MR14 /08
Date Licence issued 01.11.08
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Metallum Exploration Ltd
MPL ref no. MR15 /08
Date Licence issued 01.11.08
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Conroy Diamonds and Gold Plc.
MPL ref no. C1 /09
Date Licence issued 01.01.09
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Conroy Diamonds and Gold Plc.
MPL ref no. C3 /09
Date Licence issued 01.01.09
Extensions N/A
Lapses
Name of Company Lonmin Plc
MPL ref no. LON6 /08
Relinquished
MPL ref no. LON7 /08
Relinquished
Issued April 2009 – March 2010
MINERAL PROSPECTING LICENCES
Name of Company Dalradian Gold Ltd
MPL ref no. DG3 /09
Date Licence issued 25.04.09
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Dalradian Gold Ltd
MPL ref no. DG4 /09
Date Licence issued 25.04.09
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Lonmin Plc
MPL ref no. LON12 /09
Date Licence issued 01.07.09
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Gaelectric Developments Ltd
MPL ref no. GDL1 /10
Date Licence issued 01.02.10
Extensions N/A
CommoditySalt
Issued April 2010 – March 2011
MINERAL PROSPECTING LICENCES
None.
PETROLEUM LICENCES
Name of Company Infrastrata Plc
PL ref no.. PL1 /10
Date Licence issued 04.03.11
Name of Company Rathlin Energy Ltd
PL ref no.. PL3 /10
Date Licence issued 15.02.11
Name of Company P. R. Singleton Ltd
PL ref no..PL5 /10
Date Licence issued 22.02.11
Issued April 2011 – March 2012
MINERAL PROSPECTING LICENCES
Name of Company Dalradian Gold Ltd
MPL ref no. DG3 /11
Date Licence issued 24.04.11
Extensions N/A
Name of Company Dalradian Gold Ltd
MPL ref no. DG4 /11
Date Licence issued 24.04.11
Extensions N/A
Lapses
Name of Company Dalradian Gold Ltd
MPL ref no. DG3 /09
MPL ref no. DG4 /09
Name of Company Lonmin Plc
MPL ref no. LON12 /09
PETROLEUM LICENCES
Name of Company Tamboran Resources Pty Ltd
PL ref no.. PL2 /10
Date Licence issued 01.04.11
My Department holds no information about exploratory licences issued by the Crown Estate.
The Mineral Prospecting Licences were granted in respect of all minerals vested in the Department by the Mineral Development Act 1969 unless otherwise stated. The exceptions relate to licences taken out to prospect for specific minerals. Petroleum licences are issued for “petroleum existing in its natural condition” which “includes any mineral oil or relative hydrocarbon and natural gas existing in its natural condition in strata, but does not include coal or bituminous shales or other stratified deposits from which oil can be extracted by destructive distillation.”
48.7% of Northern Ireland’s landmass is covered by Mineral Prospecting Licences and 16.2% by Petroleum Licences. A total of 57% of the landmass is subject to exploration licences, taking into account those areas covered by both Mineral Prospecting and Petroleum Licences.