UK offshore drilling licences

Before the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve 2011, news broke that the UK government had decided to award exploratory drilling licenses to around 46 including Shell. It seems that the government has been tip toeing around the idea for several months leading up to 2012, in an effort to avoid environmental criticism, perhaps in vein since more than a few have piped up anyway. Rightly or wrongly, with new exploratory projects ahead around the English Channel and to the west of Shetland, the UK's oil and gas landscape is likely to see changes in 2012, increasing oil and gas recruitment in the process.

Environmental groups such as Greenpeace have sparked concerns over marine ecosystems around the area which may be put at risk by exploratory activity.

"There is insufficient data with regards to the complexity of the marine environment in these areas," …It is highly irresponsible for [the Department of Energy and Climate Change] to sign off on any concomitant oil and gas expansion in the region." stated environmental pressure group Platform spokesman, Adam Ma'anit.

But perhaps it's in fact the protestors whose efforts are in vein. The government has strongly stated that the issued licenses have followed on from 'rigorous examination' of the areas in question. So do the government deserve a break from protestors regarding the 2012 project?

Consideration has obviously been used by the UK government during the licensing round in 2010, which saw areas such as Moray Firth and Cardigan Bay ruled out due to the potential threat to marine wildlife.

Shell has shown to be the triumph over other firms which have been offered licenses, with a total of 6 awarded to them and their partner company, Exxon-owned Esso. With the oil and gas industry still central to UK economy, contributing over 2% to the country's GDP, should the Government be granted their wish with no questions asked?