Italy reintroduces near-shore E&P ban

Jan. 6, 2016
Italy’s parliament has approved the 2016 Budget Law which reintroduces restrictions on offshore oil and gas activity.

Offshore staff

LONDONItaly’s parliament has approved the 2016 Budget Law which reintroduces restrictions on offshore oil and gas activity.

These were originally introduced in 2010 following theDeepwater Horizon blowout, then repealed in 2012.

The new law imposes a general ban on exploration and production activity within 12 nautical miles of Italy’s coast.

Rockhopper Exploration has been notified of a 12-month extension to the suspension of the Ombrina Mare exploration permit offshore eastern Italy to Dec. 31, 2016.

TheOmbrina Mare field, which the company is looking to develop, is within the 12-mi limit. Rockhopper plans to study the new legislation to determine how the exploration permit is affected and its impact on the Ombrina Mare project.

01/06/2016

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