President Barack Obama has promised to provide more annually operating licenses for exploitation of the national petroleum reserve in Alaska and will permit accelerating production in other areas, informs AFP.
In his weekly speech on the radio and Internet, the American President acknowledged that the price of fuel which in some areas exceeds $4 a gallon is one of the most important cost burden for American households.
The president pledged to increase domestic oil production, strengthening security measures for the environment.
“In order to do this, I will ask the interior ministry to provide each year new operating licenses for exploitation of the national petroleum reserve in Alaska, respecting the sensitive areas”, said Obama.
In addition, the U.S. president has proposed accelerating the prospects for finding new oil fields on the Atlantic U.S. coast, increasing the number of licenses for operating in the Gulf of Mexico, and creating incentives for oil companies to do more under the already obtained licenses.
Barack Obama has launched since March 2010 the idea of speeding the oil drilling, but he changed his mind after the oil slick caused by the explosion of an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico.
On the other hand, this week, the leader of the White House asked the Congress to eliminate subsidies for oil companies, which costs the U.S. government $4 billion per year.