‘Grossly irresponsible’: UK hands out 24 new North Sea oil and gas licences

The move to grant 17 companies the right to drill for fossil fuels is a pipe dream' that will do little for energy security, say environmentalists

Britain has handed major oil companies the right to drill for fossil fuels in 24 new licence areas across the North Sea as part of the government's mission to extend the life of the ageing oil and gas basin.

The North Sea regulator said 17 oil companies, including Shell and BP, were granted licences in the Central North Sea, Northern North Sea and West of Shetland areas to provide benefits to the local and wider economy".