EurOil: Northern Ireland bans onshore oil and gas exploration

The Northern Ireland Executive has endorsed Economy Minister Conor Murphy’s proposal to prohibit onshore oil and gas exploration and production, including hydraulic fracturing, in a move aimed at reducing fossil fuel reliance and advancing renewable energy development.

Minister Murphy announced the decision on December 2, highlighting the Executive’s collective commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

“Reaching our net-zero target is both a legal requirement and a moral obligation, which is why decarbonisation is central to my economic plans,” Murphy said. “This ban reflects the overwhelming support expressed by the public during the consultation earlier this year.”

Murphy outlined that new legislation amending the Petroleum (Production) Act (Northern Ireland) 1964 will be introduced to the Assembly by late 2025, following drafting, public consultation, and committee scrutiny. In the interim, the Department for the Economy will neither accept nor process applications for onshore petroleum licensing.

The ban aligns Northern Ireland with similar prohibitions in the Republic of Ireland and Wales. The minister emphasised that the decision would help protect against volatile global oil and gas prices while enabling a stronger focus on renewable energy projects. 

“There are currently no active petroleum licences in Northern Ireland, with the last one relinquished in 2020,” Murphy said.

A public consultation on onshore petroleum licensing, held from January 15 to April 12, 2024, informed the decision. Respondents overwhelmingly supported the proposed ban, according to the Economy Department.

Murphy concluded: “This marks a critical step toward ending our dependence on fossil fuels, allowing Northern Ireland to move forward with renewable energy generation and a sustainable economic future.”

Legislation to formalise the ban will be introduced in late 2025, ensuring adequate time for consultation and scrutiny, the Economy Department confirmed.

This mostly symbolic move by Northern Ireland comes as the UK’s Labour government clamps down on oil and gas operations by halting the issue of new drilling licences and increasing taxation on the sector.

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