LONDON, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Britain's Oil and Gas Authority
(OGA) awarded 259 offshore blocs to 65 companies for oil and gas
exploration in areas close to producing fields with existing
infrastructure, it said on Thursday.
The 32nd offshore licensing round was launched last July,
and the OGA has said it would suspend new licensing rounds in
2020/21.
"Government forecasts point to oil and gas remaining an
important part of our energy mix for the foreseeable future, as
we move towards net zero, as the UK is still expected to be a
net importer," the OGA said.
"As such, managing the declining production and maximising
the economic recovery from the UK remains vital to meet those
energy demands as long as they exist, and to reduce reliance on
hydrocarbon imports."
Premier Oil, which is currently restructuring its
debt and plans to raise new equity, was awarded blocs near its
Tolmount and Catcher fields.
(Reporting by Shadia Nasralla;Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)
