The UK government has granted 27 new oil and gas licences for projects in the North Sea.
The licences have been issued for projects in central and northern areas of the North Sea and west of Shetland to allow oil and gas resources to be explored and developed.However, climate campaigners said they intended to challenge the decision in court.
The 33rd Oil and Gas Licensing Round was launched in October 2022 with 931 blocks and part-blocks made available for application.In addition to the 27 licences, six more blocks, which were also ready to be offered, have been merged into five existing licences. In total, the North Sea Transition Authority received 115 applications from 76 companies for 258 blocks/part-blocks when the application window closed on 12 January 2023. This was the highest participation since the introduction of the Innovate Licences in 29th Round in 2016/17.
The UK government's minister for Scotland, John Lamont, added: "These new licences will help ensure the UK's energy security, which we have all seen is more important than ever, and reduce our need for imported energy.
Offshore Energies UK said there were 284 active oil and gas fields in the North Sea and that by 2030 about 180 of those will have ceased production due to natural decline.
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