New Zealand Set to Scrap Oil, Gas Exploration Ban in Second Half
- Government says reversing the ban will bolster energy security
- Green Party labels the move a backward step for climate aims
This article is for subscribers only.
New Zealand’s government is pressing ahead with plans to lift a ban on offshore petroleum exploration, citing energy security challenges from “rapidly” declining natural gas reserves.
Gas is “critical” for the economy during periods of peak electricity demand and when generation dips from more intermittent sources such as wind, solar and hydropower, Resources Minister Shane Jones said in a statement on Sunday.