From the Daily Skeptic
by Will Jones
Ed Miliband ordered an immediate ban on new drilling in the North Sea, overturning his own officials' ruling and risking a wave of legal action. this telegraph There are more.
In an unusual intervention in a usually apolitical process, the energy minister told regulators not to approve a new round of drilling that was due to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
His decision to block the license means companies will waste millions of pounds preparing bids, and experts have warned they could take legal action as a result.
The decision follows a crisis meeting held by Mr Miliband and his aides yesterday. telegraph Request an update on outstanding drilling permit applications.
The applications were submitted by companies seeking to develop up to 35 new areas in the North Sea as part of the 33rd offshore oil and gas licensing round launched by the previous government in autumn 2023.
76 oil and gas companies submitted 115 bids for oil and gas drilling in 257 “blocks” in the North Sea, Irish Sea and eastern Atlantic. NSTA said this would increase UK oil production by 600 million barrels.
The election comes as bids for up to 35 areas are still awaiting a decision from regulator the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA).
On Wednesday afternoon, the National Security Agency said it was still considering applications despite the change in government. A spokesman reiterated the NSTA's pre-election statement: “The small number of remaining applications are being further considered and more may be made available at a later date.”
However, Mr Miliband then directed the National Security Agency to block it all.
“We will not issue new licenses to explore new fields, nor will we revoke existing oil and gas licenses,” his spokesman said in a brief statement late Wednesday. Manage it within the cycle.
Worth reading in full.
Totally crazy. Even under our crazy net zero plans, the world and the UK will still need oil and gas for a long time to come. But it looks like the UK will miss out on producing it. Because who needs industry? Who needs income? For that matter, who needs affordable energy? That does not appear to be the case in the UK, at least according to Labour. Somehow though, I don't think the public would agree.
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