Reabold Resources said its West Newton gas project in Yorkshire will continue to focus on UK energy security after a weekend report suggested the site could be used for Bitcoin mining instead of supplying domestic energy.
The company issued the clarification on Monday after media coverage drew attention to comments about using gas from the field to support data center activity.
The UK gas company said it remains committed to developing the West Newton resource as an energy asset. It added that it is also exploring a separate plan to use initial gas flows from the site for a small-scale power generation facility linked to Bitcoin mining.
Reabold presented the idea as an early-stage option rather than a full change in strategy. The company said the gas resource at West Newton “has and will continue to be progressed for the benefit of UK energy security.”
It also said it would continue to work with local and national stakeholders as it considers the best path for the project. The statement appeared aimed at addressing concern that the field would be diverted away from wider energy use.
The clarification followed a report that described West Newton as a large natural gas field that could be used to power Bitcoin mining operations. That report stated that Reabold planned to build a small gas-fired power station on the site and use the electricity generated to mine Bitcoin.
In addition, it also cited comments from co-chief executive Sachin Oza on the cost advantage of a private gas supply for data center activity.
Company says small-scale Bitcoin mining idea is under review
In its statement, Reabold said it is “exploring the potential to deploy a small-scale power generation facility at the West Newton A well site to mine Bitcoin from initial flows of gas following the upcoming well workover.”
According to the company, the proposal is tied to the early phase of site development and would use gas produced during initial operations.
Reabold said the project could help demonstrate how gas from West Newton may support future data center development. It described such infrastructure as “crucial to the future UK economy.”
The company added that success at a smaller scale could support a larger data center at the site later, though this would not rule out other uses for the gas. Moreover, future development options remain open. These include supplying gas to the national grid or to nearby industrial users.
Reabold made clear that a larger data center project, if pursued, would not block those alternatives. That point formed a central part of the clarification as the firm tried to show that Bitcoin mining is not replacing its broader energy plans.
Earlier comments reported in the media added to interest in the proposal. Oza reportedly said, “A private gas supply means we can run a data centre to mine Bitcoin relatively cheaply.”
He also said the initial setup could help fund further work at the field and serve as a test case for a larger project. The report also said the site “could theoretically power the creation of 50,000 Bitcoins,” though no timeframe or equipment details were provided.
West Newton remains central to UK energy debate
West Newton lies near Hull and has been described as one of the larger onshore gas discoveries in Britain. The field is estimated to hold up to eight billion cubic metres of gas. Based on figures cited in the report, that volume could cover more than 10 percent of the UK’s annual gas demand.
Reabold has already been given an Environment Agency licence to perform small scale, low-pressure fracking at the site. The permit will permit operations at a time when full scale fracking in the UK is prohibited.
The site has thus been included in a broader national debate on the production of domestic gas, energy security, and the utilization of new projects.
The report sparked interest by indicating that the gas of a big domestic field could be utilized in the mining of Bitcoin instead of being fed to the British energy system. That framing cast doubt because the UK still has to deal with energy supply issues at a time of geopolitical insecurity and strain on domestic energy spending.
Reabold’s clarification tried to narrow that perception. The company said the main resource would still be advanced with UK energy security in mind.
At the same time, it left room for a limited Bitcoin mining operation using early gas output. The company’s position now places the project at the intersection of energy supply, industrial use, and digital infrastructure.
Environmental criticism and future options remain in focus
Environmental groups opposed to new gas fields and fracking criticized the reported mining proposal.
Lorraine Inglis, identified as a leader of an anti-fracking campaign group in southern England, told The Telegraph that “Using that gas to power Bitcoin mining is not energy security or any genuine public benefit but the deliberate burning of fossil fuels for one of the most energy-intensive and socially questionable activities at a time of high bills and missed climate targets.”
The criticism adds another layer to an already contested project. Opposition to fracking in the UK remains strong after earlier drilling activity near Blackpool triggered minor earthquakes. Although the current licence covers lower-pressure work, the wider debate over onshore gas development has not eased.
Reabold has also pointed to other routes for commercial use of gas from West Newton. Company executives said the gas could be sold to nearby industrial centers or connected to the national gas grid. The site is located close to existing gas transmission infrastructure, which could support those options if the project moves forward.