Investing.com -- The Trump administration on Monday suggested a rollback of limits on oil and gas drilling in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve (NPR-A), a move that aligns with the President’s objective to reduce regulations for oil and gas development and boost domestic fuel production.

In the previous year, the Biden administration had finalized a rule that prohibited oil and gas leasing on 10.6 million acres (4.3 million hectares) of the NPR-A, while also restricting development on over 2 million more acres (809,000 hectares). The NPR-A, a 23-million-acre (9.3 million hectares) area on Alaska’s North Slope, was initially reserved as an emergency oil supply for the U.S. Navy in 1923. However, it was opened to commercial development in the 1970s and is currently managed by the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management.

The Interior Department under Trump’s administration stated that the Biden-era rule contradicted the 1976 Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act, which permitted oil and gas leasing in the area. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum highlighted that the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska was earmarked to support America’s energy security through responsible development. He added that the 2024 rule neglected this mandate, favoring obstruction over production and undermining the capacity to utilize domestic resources at a time when American energy independence is crucial.

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