Oil and gas giant Shell intends not to avail itself of previously acquired rights for drilling off the coast of Northern Alaska. The rights were introduced in 2012 and expired in 2022. Shell would like to sell the contracts now. This requires approval from the state of Alaska.
It is not the first time that Shell has given up or sold licences in the North Pole region. Earlier, it released permits for drilling in the Canadian part of the North Pole. Several branches also withdrew from the region. This step was inspired, among other things, by disappointing test drilling in the region in 2015.
Environmental organisations have been opposed to oil drilling in the sensitive area for years.