LONDON, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Britain launched its first oil and gas exploration licensing round since 2019 on Friday to try and boost domestic hydrocarbon output as Europe weans itself off Russian fuel.
The British North Sea, home to the global Brent benchmark grade, is an aging basin where oil and gas production has fallen from a 1999 peak of around 4.4 million barrels of oil equivalent (boed) to around 1.5 million boed.
Britain is hoping to increase domestic supplies as it grapples with record high energy prices which have forced it to plough billions of pounds into schemes to help limit the impact on homes and business and to curb spiralling inflation.
In the new licensing round, the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) is offering 898 blocks, encouraging applications especially for the Southern North Sea where hydrocarbons are close to existing infrastructure allowing for swift development.
Depending on the number and quality of applications, around 100 licences might be awarded, the NSTA said.
It estimates the time from oil or gas discovery to production has fallen significantly in recent decades to around five years.
While hosting the COP26 climate summit last year, Britain decided not to join an alliance of countries vowing to stop new oil and gas projects on their territory.
The government says continued oil and gas production does not stand in the way of its aim to build a carbon neutral economy by 2050.
"Security of supply and net zero should not be in conflict," NSTA chief executive Andy Samuel said.
Greenpeace said the focus should be on insulating homes better and growing renewable power.
"New oil and gas licences won’t lower energy bills for struggling families this winter or any winter soon nor provide energy security in the medium term," Philip Evans, energy transition campaigner for Greenpeace said.
"More fossil fuels... solve neither of those problems but will make the climate crisis even worse."
The government is reviewing its plans on how to reach its carbon neutral goal with a renewed focus on energy costs for businesses, energy secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg, who has previously expressed scepticism about the need to fight climate change, said on Sept. 26.
"Ensuring our energy independence means exploiting the full potential of our North Sea assets," Rees-Mogg said.
Britain imported close to 40% of its energy last year, according to government data. In terms of oil and gas, British fields provided around 38% of its gas and 75% of its oil demand, according to the OEUK offshore industry body.
Oil and gas firms can apply for licences until Jan. 12 with licences expected to be awarded in the second quarter of next year, the NSTA said.
(Reporting by Shadia Nasralla;Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)
