US lifts curbs on Alaska oil drilling

Oil drilling rigs

US President Donald Trump administration has lifted restrictions on oil and gas exploration in the federal oil reserve in Alaska, aiming to boost the country’s energy production.

The decision reopens up to 13 million acres that were restricted under President Joe Biden in 2024, which had limited the issuance of future oil and gas leases, while maintaining a leasing ban on 10.6 million acres of the National Petroleum Reserve area.

Biden’s 2024 decision placed an estimated 8.7 billion barrels of recoverable oil off-limits for development, covering 23 million acres, according to Bloomberg.

US Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland stated that the reversal aligns with President Trump’s goal to increase domestic energy production and strengthen supply security, particularly in resource-rich Alaska.

She added that the decision unlocks Alaska’s energy potential, creates jobs for local residents, enhances US energy security, and reflects a more pragmatic approach that ensures both Alaska and the country benefit from the region’s resources.