Willow oil project, a “carbon bomb” according to Greenpeace

Joe Biden's decision on the Willow oil project in Alaska is highly anticipated. The economic stakes are enormous, but environmental groups are campaigning to prevent it, pointing to the environmental consequences and the climate commitments of the Biden administration.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

President Joe Biden must soon decide whether the Willow oil project in Alaska gets U.S. government approval. This decision was taken in a context of strong pressure from environmental associations. The project, originally approved by the Trump administration, was temporarily halted in 2021 by a judge, who referred it for further government review.

The economic stakes are enormous, but Joe Biden’s decision is highly anticipated, as he had promised not to authorize new oil and gas drilling on federal lands. Symbolically, the drilling would be done in a northern Alaskan wilderness area in the Arctic, where temperatures are warming much faster than the rest of the planet, bearing the brunt of the adverse effects of human-related greenhouse gas emissions.

Massive opposition from environmental associations

Supporters of the project see it as a source of jobs, a contribution to U.S. energy independence and, for some, an inevitable step in the transition to other energy sources. However, the environmental associations are making a massive campaign to prevent the realization of the project. “If approved, the Willow project would become the largest oil extraction project on federal lands in the United States,” Greenpeace pointed out, calling it a “carbon bomb.” “We can’t afford it, as a planet,” the Earthjustice organization asserted. An online petition on Change.org has gathered more than three million signatures. A wave of videos opposing the project also broke on the social network TikTok. The hashtag #StopWillow had more than 150 million views as of midday Thursday.

Project Reduction and Environmental Concerns

In early February, the Bureau of Land Management released its environmental analysis, in which it detailed a “preferred alternative.” The latter would reduce the project to three drilling sites instead of five, with approximately 219 wells. This would allow the production of 576 million barrels of oil over about 30 years, according to the office’s estimates. This would result in the emission of 9.2 million tons of CO2 per year. The U.S. agency notes that this amount represents 0.1% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2019. A fourth drill site could then be added under this scenario.

The American oil giant ConocoPhillips had “welcomed” the publication of this report and considered that the proposed alternative was “a viable path for the future development of (its) lease”.

The U.S. government has also expressed concern about greenhouse gas emissions. The economic stakes are enormous, but the environmental consequences and the Biden administration’s climate commitments must also be taken into account.

Oil proponents pressure Joe Biden

In early March, three Alaska elected officials in the U.S. Congress, including Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, urged President Biden to approve the “Willow” project. They emphasized the economic benefits to Alaska and the energy security of the United States. However, Joe Biden has pledged to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and meet the commitments of the Paris Climate Agreement. It remains to be seen what decision will be made on this controversial project.

Halliburton and Aker BP have completed the first umbilical-less tubing hanger installation on the Norwegian continental shelf, paving the way for digitised offshore operations with reduced infrastructure.
The US group has finalised operations at the Begonia field, marking its first offshore deepwater intervention in Angola’s Block 17/06, located 150 kilometres off the coast.
Prolonged attacks on fuel convoys have depleted stocks, destabilised power generation and disrupted economic activity in Bamako and surrounding regions.
Nigerian group Dangote has reduced crude supply to its refinery, citing a strategic adjustment to high oil prices and denying any technical failure.
Reliance Industries reported a 9.67% increase in net profit in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025–2026, driven by recovering petrochemical margins and continued growth in its retail and telecom operations.
An operational fire was contained at the largest refinery in the US Midwest, causing a temporary shutdown of several processing units, according to industry data.
The European Commission imposes new rules requiring proof of refined crude origin and excludes the use of mass-balancing to circumvent the Russian oil ban.
The Dutch Supreme Court has rejected Russia's final appeal, confirming a record $50bn compensation to former Yukos shareholders, ending two decades of legal battle.
A ruling by Namibia's High Court upheld the media regulator’s decision that the state broadcaster NBC failed to ensure balance in its coverage of ReconAfrica’s oil operations.
The Canadian oilfield services provider announced a $75mn private placement of 6.875% senior unsecured notes to refinance bank debt and support operations.
Commercial crude reserves in the United States posted an unexpected increase, reaching their highest level in over a month due to a marked slowdown in refinery activity.
Beijing calls Donald Trump's request to stop importing Russian crude interference, denouncing economic coercion and defending what it calls legitimate trade with Moscow.
India faces mounting pressure from the United States over its purchases of Russian oil, as Donald Trump claims Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged to halt them.
Three Crown Petroleum has started production from its Irvine 1NH well and plans two new wells in Wyoming, marking a notable acceleration of its deployment programme in the Powder River Basin through 2026.
The International Monetary Fund expects oil prices to weaken due to sluggish global demand growth and the impact of US trade policies.
With lawsuits multiplying against oil majors, Republican lawmakers are seeking to establish federal immunity to block legal actions tied to environmental damage.
The United Kingdom targets two Russian oil majors, Asian ports and dozens of vessels in a new wave of sanctions aimed at disrupting Moscow's hydrocarbon exports.
Major global oil traders anticipate a continued decline in Brent prices, citing the fading geopolitical premium and rising supply, particularly from non-OPEC producers.
Canadian company Petro-Victory Energy Corp. has secured a $300,000 unsecured loan at a 14% annual rate, including 600,000 warrants granted to a lender connected to its board of directors.
Cenovus Energy has purchased over 21.7 million common shares of MEG Energy, representing 8.5% of its capital, as part of its ongoing acquisition strategy in Canada.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.