The US government has approved a controversial oil drilling project by energy company Conoco Phillips in Alaska. Around 600 million barrels of oil are to be produced on state territory in the coming decades. The US Department of the Interior published the decision on Monday.
During the election campaign, President Joe Biden promised not to allow any further drilling on state soil. The cost of the project called “Willow” is estimated at around eight billion dollars.
According to Conoco Phillips, the project will create 2,500 jobs during the construction phase and 300 in the long term. The company expects a production volume of 180,000 barrels of oil per day. The project is expected to bring billions in revenue to the state and region through taxes and royalties, which is why it also enjoys support in the region. Environmental groups, on the other hand, point to the damage to the environment and climate caused by oil drilling. Lawsuits are expected.