UK regulator trying to block release of Shell North Sea documents

Exclusive: North Sea Transition Authority under fire for using lawyers to argue against publication of environmental impact

The UK’s oil and gas regulator is coming under fire from environmental groups for using lawyers to try to prevent the publication of five key documents relating to the environmental impact of Shell’s activities in the North Sea.

At a hearing in December, a legal representative for the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) is expected to argue against the publication of documents that contain details about the risk of pollution as a result of decommissioning the Brent oilfield, which was operated by Shell for more than 40 years. It says it opposes publication “on a matter of process basis”.