UK plans autumn licensing round
The country also aims to speed project development as it outlines new energy security strategy
The UK’s North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) upstream regulator will launch another licensing round in the autumn—which will take into account the country’s forthcoming climate compatibility checkpoint for new oil and gas developments—as it puts continuing exploitation of domestic hydrocarbons resources as a central point of a new energy security strategy. “This will mean more domestic gas on the grid sooner,” the government says. And it is also looking at fast-tracking new production through the creation of gas and oil new project regulatory accelerators, which will aim to provide dedicated, named project support to facilitate more rapid development of new fields. These “could take years
Also in this section
27 February 2026
LNG would serve as a backup supply source as domestic gas declines and the country’s energy system comes under stress during periods of low hydropower output and high energy demand
27 February 2026
The assumption that oil markets will re-route and work around sanctions is being tested, and it is the physical infrastructure that is acting as the constraint
27 February 2026
The 25th WPC Energy Congress to take place in tandem as part of a coordinated week of high-level ministerial, institutional and industry engagements
27 February 2026
The deepwater sector must be brave by fast-tracking projects and making progress to seize huge offshore opportunities and not become bogged down by capacity constraints and consolidation






