Alaska protections announced as Biden reportedly set to approve huge oil project

Plans to protect 16m acres of Alaska and Arctic circle from drilling comes as president prepares to reveal decision on Willow project

Joe Biden has announced new steps to ban oil and gas drilling in the Arctic Ocean and limit onshore drilling in Alaska, as his administration reportedly prepares to approve a huge new oilfield in the state.

Plans announced Sunday night will bar drilling in nearly 3m acres of the Beaufort Sea - closing it off from oil exploration - and limit drilling in more than 13m acres in a vast swath of land known as the National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska.