Third Energy Onshore
Third Energy Onshore Ltd is a UK company involved in oil and gas exploration, including proposals for fracking operations in Kirby Misperton, North Yorkshire.
The company was incorporated as Viking Petroleum UK Ltd in October 2003.{{cite web|title=THIRD ENERGY ONSHORE LIMITED|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/04946049|website=Companies House|accessdate=10 February 2018}} In December 2003, it acquired a 40% holding in the Ryedale gas fields in North Yorkshire from Edinburgh Oil and Gas plc.{{cite web|title=Edinburgh Oil & Gas Disposal|url=https://www.investegate.co.uk/edinburgh-oil---38--gas---206-/rns/disposal/200312011100036454S/|website=FE Investigate|accessdate=10 February 2018}} In October 2013, Viking acquired Tullow Oil's 60% share in onshore oil interests relating to the North Yorkshire gas fields and operation of the gas-fired Knapton Power Station in October 2013{{cite news|title=UK: Tullow completes Thames acquisition and sells onshore operations|url=https://www.energy-pedia.com/news/general/tullow-completes-thames-acquisition-and-sells-onshore-operations|accessdate=10 February 2018|work=Energy-Pedia News|date=1 December 2003}} (Knapton is supplied by gas wells in the Kirby Misperton area).{{cite news|last1=Evers|first1=Angus|title=Hydraulic fracturing - the third way|url=http://www.shoosmiths.co.uk/client-resources/legal-updates/hydraulic-fracturing-the-third-way-12481.aspx|accessdate=10 February 2018|work=Shoosmiths|date=10 February 2017}} Viking changed its name to Third Energy Onshore in October 2013.
Third Energy Onshore was 97% owned by Barclays' private equity division, Barclays Natural Resource Investments; its ultimate parent company, Third Energy Holdings, is based in the Cayman Islands. Sister company Third Energy Offshore was acquired from Third Energy Holdings by Hague and London Oil plc in September 2018,{{cite news |last1=Lammy |first1=Mark |title=Halo snaps up Pegasus stake with Third Energy acquisition |url=https://www.energyvoice.com/oilandgas/north-sea/181887/halo-snaps-up-pegasus-stake-with-third-energy-acquisition/ |accessdate=11 April 2019 |work=Energy Voice |date=19 September 2018}} with the deal formally approved in December 2018.{{cite news |last1=Pai |first1=Laxman |title=Halo Completes Acquisition of Third Energy Offshore |url=https://www.oedigital.com/news/461230-halo-completes-acquisition-of-third-energy-offshore |accessdate=11 April 2019 |work=Offshore Engineer |date=2 January 2019}}
In October 2018, owner Barclays was reported to be considering selling Third Energy Onshore rather than invest a further £5m to make the Kirby Misperton fracking site fully functional in the next 12 months.{{cite news |last1=Todd |first1=Felix |title=What is Third Energy? The UK energy firm whose financial woes could stop its fracking operations |url=https://www.compelo.com/third-energy-fracking/ |accessdate=11 April 2019 |work=Compelo |date=29 October 2018}} In March 2019, financial adviser Lazard was reported to be talking to rival energy companies about investing in or acquiring Third Energy Onshore's business.{{cite news |last1=Kleinman |first1=Mark |title=Barclays-backed fracker Third Energy courts rivals for cash |url=https://news.sky.com/story/barclays-backed-fracker-third-energy-courts-rivals-for-cash-11287180 |accessdate=11 April 2019 |work=Sky News |date=12 March 2019}} In July 2019, Third Energy Onshore and two sister companies were sold to York Energy, a subsidiary of US-owned Alpha Energy.{{cite news |last1=Mackie |first1=David |title=Ryedale gas company Third Energy finalises sale to US firm |url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/ryedale/17758435.ryedale-gas-company-third-energy-finalises-sale-us-firm/ |accessdate=15 July 2019 |work=The Press |date=10 July 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Burn |first1=Chris |title=Fracking fears reignited for Yorkshire village as US firm buys shale gas company Third Energy |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/latest-news/fracking-fears-reignited-for-yorkshire-village-as-us-firm-buys-shale-gas-company-third-energy-1-9869770 |accessdate=15 July 2019 |work=Yorkshire Post |date=10 July 2019}}
Kirby Misperton fracking
{{main|Kirby Misperton}}
In November 2014, Third Energy Onshore announced its intention to apply for permission to frack near Kirby Misperton.{{cite news|last1=Gosden|first1=Emily|title=Barclays-backed business applies to frack near Flamingo Land in North Yorkshire|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/11253301/Barclays-backed-business-applies-to-frack-near-Flamingo-Land-in-North-Yorkshire.html|accessdate=10 February 2018|work=Telegraph|date=25 November 2014}}{{cite news|last1=Morrison|first1=Caitlin|title=Barclays-backed firm Third Energy plans to start fracking in North Yorkshire|url=http://www.cityam.com/1416966200/barclays-backed-firm-plans-start-fracking-north-yorkshire|accessdate=10 February 2018|work=City AM|date=26 November 2014}}
In July 2015 Third Energy Onshore applied to North Yorkshire County Council for planning permission to frack a well drilled in 2013 and to produce gas from it. Permission was granted in May 2016; Friends of the Earth and a local pressure group, Frack Free Ryedale, applied for judicial review of the decision,{{cite news|last1=Grimwood|first1=Tom|title=Fracking challenge lacks real legal merit says law firm|url=https://utilityweek.co.uk/fracking-challenge-lacks-real-legal-merit-says-law-firm/|accessdate=10 February 2018|work=Utility Week|date=17 June 2016}} but this application was rejected in December 2016.{{cite web|title=Approved Judgement|url=https://www.judiciary.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/approved-judgment-rfoe-anr-v-n-yorks-cc-anr.pdf|website=Royal Courts of Justice|accessdate=10 February 2018}} In October 2017, Third Energy Onshore announced its intention to begin fracking within weeks.{{cite news|last1=Kentish|first1=Benjamin|title=Onshore fracking to begin in UK 'within weeks'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/fracking-begin-in-weeks-shale-gas-uk-third-energy-north-yorkshire-a7985711.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/fracking-begin-in-weeks-shale-gas-uk-third-energy-north-yorkshire-a7985711.html |archive-date=2022-05-07 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|accessdate=10 February 2018|work=Independent|date=5 October 2017}}{{cbignore}}{{cite news|title=First UK shale gas frack in North Yorkshire weeks away|url=http://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2017-10-05/first-uk-shale-gas-frack-in-north-yorkshire-weeks-away/|accessdate=10 February 2018|work=ITV News|date=5 October 2017}}
In November 2017, opponents to the fracking operation called upon the company to confirm its financial standing before commencing work; the company was over a month late in filing its accounts{{cite news|last1=Gosden|first1=Emily|title=Opponents tell Barclays-backed fracking firm Third Energy to show its accounts|url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/opponents-tell-barclays-backed-fracking-firm-third-energy-to-show-its-accounts-xh07cm568|access-date=10 February 2018|work=Times|date=6 November 2017}} (which were eventually filed on 1 February 2018).{{cite news|last1=Mackie|first1=David|title=Fracking firm Third Energy hands in late accounts|url=http://www.gazetteherald.co.uk/news/15922634.Fracking_firm_hands_in_late_accounts/|accessdate=12 February 2018|work=Gazette & Herald|date=7 February 2018}} In January 2018, Business Secretary Greg Clark said permission for Third Energy Onshore to frack would not be granted until financial checks had been completed by the Infrastructure and Projects Authority,{{cite news|title=Kirby Misperton fracking permission postponed for financial checks|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-42789835|accessdate=10 February 2018|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=25 January 2018}} amid concerns about its resilience and ability to fund clean-up costs.{{cite news|last1=Vaughan|first1=Adam|title=Fracking row: Treasury 'showing shambolic conflict of interest'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/feb/19/fracking-third-energy-north-yorkshire-treasury-jitesh-gadhia|accessdate=20 February 2018|work=Guardian|date=19 February 2018}} The 2016 accounts of Third Energy UK Gas Ltd showed it made a £3.4m loss (down from a £3.85m loss in 2015), but owed £44.7m to its ultimate parent company, Third Energy Holdings, based in the Cayman Islands.
Third Energy Onshore began removing equipment from the site in early February 2018,{{cite news|title=Kirby Misperton fracking: Company to remove equipment|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-42979322|accessdate=10 February 2018|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=7 February 2018}} as questions about the company's finances and management continued, including about the September 2017 appointments{{cite news|last1=Duke|first1=Simon|title=City veterans Keith Cochrane and Lord Gadhia go fracking in Yorkshire|url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/article/third-energy-city-veterans-keith-cochrane-and-lord-gadhia-go-fracking-in-yorkshire-dwz6dd6zj|access-date=20 February 2018|work=Times|date=3 September 2017}} of former Carillion interim CEO Keith Cochrane as non-executive chairman,{{cite news|last1=Helm|first1=Toby|title=Carillion links put fracking firm’s scheme in doubt|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/feb/10/carillion-links-north-yorkshire-fracking-third-energy|accessdate=10 February 2018|work=Guardian|date=10 February 2018}} and of Jitesh Gadhia, a Conservative party peer and donor and a non-executive director at HM Treasury body UK Financial Investments (which advises government on dealing with financially distressed businesses) as a non-executive director. Cochrane and Gadhia resigned as directors in September 2018.{{cite news |last1=Hayhurst |first1=Ruth |title=“City heavyweights” resign from fracking firm, Third Energy |url=https://drillordrop.com/2018/09/18/city-heavyweights-resign-from-fracking-firm-third-energy/ |accessdate=19 September 2018 |work=Drill or Drop |date=18 September 2018}}
In April 2019, the Kirby Misperton site remained dormant over a year after Third Energy Onshire vacated it;{{cite news |last1=Mackie |first1=David |title=Campaigners to mark ‘frack-free year’ |url=https://www.gazetteherald.co.uk/news/17542852.campaigners-to-mark-frack-free-year/ |accessdate=11 April 2019 |work=Gazette & Herald |date=3 April 2019}} the company had earlier said it would drill at the site before the end of 2019.{{cite news |last1=Mackie |first1=David |title=Anti-fracking protesters vow to fight Third Energy fracking plans |url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/17466274.anti-fracking-protesters-vow-to-fight-third-energy-fracking-plans/ |accessdate=11 April 2019 |work=The Press |date=28 February 2019}} The July 2019 completion of Third Energy Onshore's sale raised fears that fracking might be restarted at Kirby Misperton.