'Greenlighting a new drilling frenzy': Green groups slam latest wave of North Sea oil and gas licences

Stuart Stone
clock • 5 min read
Credit: iStock
Image:

Credit: iStock

Decision to award 24 new North Sea oil and gas licences shows government still has 'fingers in their ears', campaigners claim

Campaign groups have slammed the government for "greenlighting a new drilling frenzy", after the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) named Shell, Equinor, BP, Total and NEO among 17 companies to be offered...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

Stuart Stone
Author spotlight

Stuart Stone

View profile
More from Stuart Stone

Extreme weather impacts could cost mobile network operators over $3bn a year by 2050

'Staggering shortfall': World 'not ready' to adapt to current climate, let alone future impacts

More on Policy

Energy Minister confirms 'pause' ahead of next clean power contract auction
Policy

Energy Minister confirms 'pause' ahead of next clean power contract auction

Michael Shanks tells Lords Committee government will review Contract for Difference terms ahead of Allocation Round Nine, as government seeks to tackle rising energy system costs

James Murray
James Murray
clock 04 November 2026 • 5 min read
'The Barbra Streisand effect': UK heat pump demand hits new heights in September
Policy

'The Barbra Streisand effect': UK heat pump demand hits new heights in September

September saw the highest ever number for grants issued in a single month through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, fresh figures show

Amber Rolt
clock 30 October 2026 • 4 min read
Is clean power by 2030 dead? And does it matter?
Policy

Is clean power by 2030 dead? And does it matter?

John Healey's Budget speech yesterday did not formally kill off the government's clean power by 2030 target - but it remains unclear at the time of writing whether or not it is officially still in place, with the Treasury having declined to respond on...

James Murray
James Murray
clock 29 October 2026 • 4 min read