Moratorium on Gulf of Mexico oil drilling is lifted

By The Newsroom
Published 12th Oct 2010, 18:11 BST
Updated 13th Oct 2010, 01:14 BST
The Obama administration has lifted the six-month moratorium on deep-water oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico imposed after the BP oil spill in April.

The administration has been under pressure from the industry and others in the region to lift the ban on ground it has cost jobs and damaged the economy.

A federal report said the moratorium likely caused a temporary loss of 8,000 to 12,000 jobs in the Gulf region.

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While the temporary ban on exploratory drilling is lifted immediately, drilling is unlikely to resume straight away.

Michael Bromwich, director of the agency that oversees offshore drilling, yesterday said it would take "at least a couple of weeks" after the ban is lifted before permits are approved.

US Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said that new rules imposed after the BP spill have strengthened safety measures and reduced the risk of a catastrophic blowout.