Gas firm Crogga and wind farm company Orsted will likely have to work with each other if they want to use the island’s territorial sea bed.

Both companies are seeking to use part of the seabed off the coast of Maughold, with some overlap between their zones.

In a written response to Douglas East MHK Joney Faragher, former Infrastructure Minister Tim Crookall said that the department had requested that Crogga agree to the below statement.

That letter said: ‘Crogga understands that there is an Agreement for Lease with Orsted for the development of an offshore windfarm adjacent to, and overlapping the Crogga hydrocarbon block. The department seeks confirmation from Crogga that it will continue to engage with Orsted as and when appropriate as part of any offshore windfarm development.

‘It is imperative that the two parties understand both these seabed projects are fundamental to the department’s responsibilities to maximise the financial opportunities from the island’s seabed and that both Crogga and Orsted will act in a manner as not to frustrate or prevent the other in exercising their respective rights.’

It still seems a while off before either firm will be ready to go on their plans.