Under pressure to begin oil production, Biden ok's Alaska oil project

Robert Besser
17 Mar 2023, 05:11 GMT+10

US Department of Interior said that the Biden administration will approve a scaled-back version of a $7 billion oil and gas drilling project in Alaska
The project is expected to create hundreds of jobs and bring billions of dollars in revenue to the state and country
The United Nations, which has urged countries to transition away from fossil fuels, criticized the decision

WASHINGTON D.C.: Despite a last-minute campaign from opponents, the US Department of Interior said that the Biden administration will approve a scaled-back version of a $7 billion oil and gas drilling project in Alaska known as "Willow" and proposed by ConocoPhillips.

The project will create hundreds of jobs and bring billions of dollars in revenue to the state and country, said elected officials from Alaska, which relies heavily on oil revenue, despite output declining heavily from its peak in the 1980s.

On a call with reporters, US Representative Mary Peltola, a Democrat from Alaska, said, "I feel the people of Alaska have been heard. The state of Alaska cannot carry the burden of solving our global warming issues alone."

The United Nations, which has urged countries to transition away from fossil fuels, criticized the decision.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters, "These are not projects that move us in the right direction."

Environmental groups also criticized the Biden administration's decision, stressing it was trying to have it "both ways" regarding climate change.

Environmental groups have said they would challenge the project in court.

Having already endorsed the smaller version of the project, Houston-based ConocoPhillips lauded the US decision.
In a statement, ConocoPhillips Chief Executive Ryan Lance said, "This was the right decision for Alaska and our nation."

Meanwhile, US Senator Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, welcomed the "good news," stating "this will mean jobs and revenue for Alaska," by pumping upwards of 180,000 barrels of oil per day into the Trans Alaska Pipeline.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Australian Herald.

More Information

17 ℃

Fair in Sydney

International

Section

180 Rohingya Muslim refugees land boat in Indonesia's Aceh

JAKARTA, Indonesia: Officials from Indonesia's Aceh province said that more than 180 Rohingya Muslims landed this week by boat, in ...

Hong Kong demonstrators hold protest amidst strict restrictions

HONG KONG: Hong Kong's first authorized protest took place since the end of COVID-19 restrictions and under new strict security ...

Trying to avoid general call-up, Russia offering men cash to join army

MOSCOW, Russia: A new campaign has begun across Russia to attract badly needed recruits to replenish its troop numbers for ...

Security concerns behind proposed US ban of TikTok

WASHINGTON D.C.: US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy has said that lawmakers will move forward on legislation aimed at ...

In first, US tribal university to offer PhD degree

CROWNPOINT, New Mexico: Navajo Technical University, located on the largest Native American reservation in the US, has become the first ...

Seven dead, ten injured after chocolate factory explodes

WEST READING, Pennsylvania: An explosion occurred at a chocolate factory in Pennsylvania, killing seven people and seeing ten staff members ...

Sydney

Section