UK Bans New Drilling in North Sea

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has enacted an immediate ban on new North Sea oil drilling licenses, overriding departmental officials and setting the stage for potential legal confrontations with oil companies. This decision halts the expected approval of new drilling in up to 35 areas, a process initiated during the 33rd offshore oil and gas licensing round in late 2023. Miliband’s directive is aimed at aligning the UK’s energy policies with its climate commitments, but oil companies that had invested substantial monetary resources into…