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First lease sale in Alaska petroleum reserve in years draws strong interest despite pending lawsuits

The record $163 million lease sale attracted 430 bids for 1.3 million acres, signaling strong industry confidence despite ongoing legal challenges and environmental concerns.

  • On Wednesday, the U.S. government held its most successful sale ever of oil and gas drilling rights in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, attracting $163 million in winning bids from major industry players.
  • Fulfilling a mandate from President Donald Trump, the sale marks the first since 2019 and reverses previous Biden-era restrictions on drilling in the region.
  • Companies submitted 430 bids across 1.3 million acres, with major participants including Repsol and Shell helping the total surpass the previous 1999 record of $104 million.
  • Rosemary Ahtuangaruak of Grandmothers Growing Goodness criticized the sale, stating "For us, caribou aren't expendable; they are central to our subsistence, culture, and food security." A Monday court ruling by District Court Judge Sharon Gleason could affect some bids.
  • Revenue from the sale is split 50-50 between the federal government and Alaska, though Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy's proposal to shift the state's portion toward the Permanent Fund may trigger legal battles over fund usage.
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First lease sale in Alaska petroleum reserve in years draws strong interest despite pending lawsuits

The first oil and gas lease sale held in years in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska has been touted by officials as the strongest to date.

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larepublica.co broke the news in Bogotá, Colombia on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
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