New Zealand Government Moves to Repeal 'Ban on Oil and Gas Exploration'

Opposition Parties and Environmental Groups Oppose

The New Zealand government has decided to repeal the ban on new oil and gas exploration introduced by the previous administration.

On the 9th (local time), according to Radio New Zealand (RNZ) and others, Shane Jones, Minister of Resources, announced in a statement that the ban on offshore oil and gas exploration will be lifted due to energy security concerns.

Minister Jones said, "Gas is a very important energy source for generating electricity and running the economy during periods of rapidly increasing power demand," adding, "Since the previous government introduced the exploration ban, international investment has been hindered and gas field development has been blocked, threatening energy security."

He explained that the government plans to allow offshore oil and gas exploration and will propose amendments to the Minerals Act within the year to make it easier for companies to obtain permits.

The photo is unrelated to the article. An oil drilling rig in the Permian Basin, Texas, USA [Image source=Reuters·Yonhap News]

However, as soon as this statement was released, environmental groups including the Green Party strongly opposed it.

Chloe Swarbrick, co-leader of the Green Party, argued, "The government is trying to fuel the climate crisis by filling the pockets of fossil fuel companies with oil and gas," and added, "Prioritizing clean energy is essential to maintaining a sustainable and efficient economy." The environmental group Greenpeace also warned that if the current government ignores the will of the people, it will face tremendous backlash.

New Zealand decided in 2018, during the Labour Party government, to not grant new oil and gas exploration permits in its territorial waters as a response to climate change. However, the conservative coalition government that took office last year promised to reverse policies implemented by the Labour government, including the ban on oil and gas exploration.

According to the New Zealand government, New Zealand exported oil worth 900 million New Zealand dollars (approximately 760 billion Korean won) annually as of 2022, and tax revenue from oil extraction reached 214 million New Zealand dollars (approximately 180 billion Korean won) per year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.