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UK Government to allow oil and gas extraction near existing North Sea fields

New transitional energy certificates permit drilling near existing North Sea fields, but the government maintains a permanent ban on new exploration licences, limiting recoverable reserves to 25 million barrels.

  • On Thursday, the UK Labour government announced Transitional Energy Certificates to allow limited oil and gas production tied to existing fields while confirming a permanent ban on new exploration licences.
  • Industry lobbying in recent months and warnings about rejecting Rosebank and Jackdaw after a months-long consultation persuaded ministers to soften rules.
  • The consultation response states Transitional Energy Certificates will cover seabed areas adjacent to licensed blocks, be managed 'out‑of‑round' by the North Sea Transition Authority, and be limited to known field volumes.
  • Industry leaders warned the Energy Profits Levy stifles investment and jobs while the Government will create a North Sea Jobs Service as Robert Gordon University estimates about 1,000 jobs a month are lost.
  • Labour's manifesto softened its 2024 pledge by allowing tie-backs while upholding the ban, with Scottish Greens condemning the backtrack and Greenpeace UK and campaigners praising the exploration halt.
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Merco Press broke the news in Caracas, Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of on Wednesday, November 26, 2025.
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