Altona Energy PLC Arckaringa project update (8483H)

TIDMANR

RNS Number : 8483H

Altona Energy PLC

22 May 2014

22 May 2014

Altona Energy Plc

("Altona")

Arckaringa project update

Altona (AIM: ANR) today announces that its 100% owned and operated Arckaringa project has had an extension until 19(th) May 2015 granted to its Water Affecting Activity Permit (WAAP), which defines water management procedures for the proposed 31-hole drilling programme. This Permit was granted by the Department for Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR) via the South Australian Arid Lands Natural Resources Management Board (SAALNRMB).

It follows the recent grant of a renewed Program for Environmental Protection and Rehabilitation (PEPR), which identifies all relevant environmental, social and economic impact events that may result from proposed exploration activities and how each of the identified impacts are to be managed or avoided.

The WAAP approval and the previously announced PEPR approval follow South Australian Government consent for the return of its Exploration Licences, previously held by the former Joint Venture partners Altona and CNOOC.

Altona has worked diligently alongside the South Australian authorities to expedite the WAAP and the PEPR permits, which had previously lapsed under CNOOC operatorship. The receipt of these two key permits allows Altona to continue to plan the 31-hole drilling programme, the execution of which remains subject to partner finance.

For further information, please visit www.altonaenergy.com or contact:

 
Altona Energy Plc 
 Christopher Lambert, Chief Executive 
 Michael Zheng, Chairman                     [phone] 
WH Ireland Ltd 
 Adrian Hadden 
 James Bavister                              [phone] 
Old Park Lane Capital Plc 
 Michael Parnes                              [phone] 
Tavistock Communications 
 Mike Bartlett                               [phone] 
Marlow Communications (Australian media) 
 Stephen Marlow                            [phone] 
 

About Altona

Altona is listed on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market. Its focus is firmly on the evaluation and development of the Company's coal-to-liquids Arckaringa Project to exploit the huge coal resources, equivalent to 7.8 billion barrels, contained in three exploration licences covering 2,500 sq. kms in the northern portion of the Permian Arckaringa Basin in South Australia.

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This information is provided by RNS

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