Biden clamps down on Alaskan oil and gas

Federal government restricts activity in Alaskan petroleum reserve but leaves current arrangements like Willow alone

The Biden administration finalised a rule to restrict oil and gas development in a significant proportion of the National Petroleum Reserve – Alaska (NPR–A) on 19 April. Under the US Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM’s) new rule, 13.3m acres of the 23m acre reserve have been designated as “special areas” limiting future oil and gas leasing and industrial development, while “the rule also codifies existing prohibitions on new leasing in 10.6m acres, more than 40% of the NPR–A”. The rule will apply to existing leases within the special areas but will not alter the terms of those contracts or affect currently authorised activities under them, including ConocoPhillips’ 600m bl Willow project, app