UK licensing round draws industry ire

摘要

London—The UK oil industry stepped up its rhetoric against North Sea taxes Thursday, pouring scorn on government claims that the latest award of licenses showed companies “scrambling” to invest in the mature offshore region. The UK government on Thursday said it awarded 134 licenses covering 252 blocks in its latest licensing round. It hailed the result as a major success which is on track to make the round one of biggest ever in 50 years.