Scotland gets onshore licensing authority

Onshore oil and gas licensing in Scotland is now the responsibility of the Scottish government.

Transfer of the function from the UK Oil & Gas Authority occurred under the Scotland Act of 2016, enacted after Scottish voters defeated an independence referendum in 2014.

Responsibility for offshore licensing and oil and gas taxation remains with the UK government.

Powers earlier devolved to Scottish ministers include income taxation and welfare policy.

Last year, the Scottish government extended indefinitely a moratorium in place since 2015 on hydraulic fracturing (OGJ Online, Oct. 3, 2017).