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Offshore Industry: Licensing

Question for Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

UIN 12466, tabled on 4 November 2024

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate his Department has made of the number of pending (a) oil and (b) gas licence applications delayed due to the judgement in UKSC 2022/0064.

Answered on

12 November 2024

The Government does not expect the Finch judgement to delay licence applications because it relates to Environmental Impact Assessments associated with applications for development consent for offshore oil and gas projects that have already secured a licence.

The Government will consult later this year on the implementation of our manifesto position not to issue new oil and gas licences to explore new fields.

The North Sea Transition Authority has paused considering any further licences from the 33rd round pending the finalisation of the Government’s consultation process into the future of licensing.