FAQs & Resources

No, the cost of developing the field will be privately funded at zero cost to the Manx government and Manx taxpayer

Establish a credible route for privately funded appraisal and, if the resource proves commercially viable and satisfies the required technical, environmental, safety and regulatory standards, responsible production.

As a transition fuel, Manx gas can provide flexible generation when wind output is low, helping the Island use more renewable energy without compromising reliability. Compared with imported LNG, local pipeline gas avoids liquefaction, long-distance shipping and regasification, giving it the potential for a significantly lower supply-chain footprint. Our plans also include a route to regional carbon capture and storage. Gas is not emissions-free, but local supply can be a more resilient and lower-impact choice during the transition.

No. Marque Oil and Gas believes the available technical evidence supports a potentially significant opportunity. Appraisal is required to confirm the recoverable resource, production profile and commercial viability.

Part of the resource is intended to support Manx supply and strengthen energy resilience. The share of Island demand it can meet will be confirmed through appraisal, infrastructure planning and the final supply arrangements.

Local gas creates an opportunity for longer-term supply arrangements that reduce exposure to international price spikes. Delivering that benefit to consumers will require an agreed pricing mechanism and clear consumer protections.

At this stage, nobody can say with certainty. The project has not yet been appraised, which means the size of any recoverable resource remains uncertain.

Marque presented a range of economic scenarios to Members of the House of Keys on 1 July. These scenarios were based on different assumptions regarding gas volumes, recovery factors, gas prices, development costs and operating costs.

Based on our current modelling, government revenues in a successful development case could potentially range from approximately £1.5 billion to £3.5 billion over the life of the project. However, these figures remain highly uncertain and should be regarded as indicative rather than predictive.

Equally, if appraisal were to demonstrate that no commercial development exists, government revenues could be zero.

Importantly, the costs and risks associated with exploration and appraisal would be borne by private investors. In the unsuccessful case, those investors would incur the losses rather than the Isle of Man taxpayer.

If a significant commercial resource were confirmed, the resulting revenues could be large relative to the size of the Isle of Man economy and population and could potentially support substantial long-term investment in infrastructure, energy policy and public services.

For that reason, we believe the resource should be properly evaluated through a licensed appraisal programme so that decisions can be based on solid evidence rather than speculation.

The project would not proceed. The purpose of appraisal and detailed approvals is to establish whether a safe, responsible and commercially viable development exists.

Decommissioning obligations and financial provision would be established within the regulatory framework before production, with wells secured and infrastructure removed or responsibly repurposed at the end of the project.

Yes, if properly designed, Marque Oil and Gas’s technical position is that developing gas first may retain the possibility of offshore wind later. However, construction of the proposed wind farm first would prevent the gas resource from ever being developed, losing this opportunity forever.