Last mentioned: Mar 19, 2026
Record Lease Sale
The first sale under the new mandate draws the strongest interest to date from 11 companies.
Record Lease Sale
The first sale under the new mandate draws the strongest interest to date from major oil firms.
Legislative Mandate
Congress passes a law requiring five lease sales in the NPR-A over the next decade.
Legislative Mandate
Congress passes a law requiring five lease sales in the NPR-A over the next decade.
Willow Project Approval
The Biden administration authorizes ConocoPhillips' massive Willow oil project.
Willow Project Approval
The Biden administration authorizes the large-scale Willow oil project within the reserve.
Last Previous Sale
The final oil and gas lease sale in the NPR-A before a multi-year hiatus.
Previous Lease Sale
The last oil and gas lease sale in the NPR-A is held before a multi-year hiatus.
The U.S. Department of Interior's first lease sale in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska since 2019 saw 11 companies bid on 1.3 million acres. This surge in interest follows a federal mandate for expanded drilling, though environmental groups continue to challenge the development in court.
The U.S. Department of Interior's first lease sale in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska since 2019 has drawn significant corporate interest, with 11 companies bidding on 1.3 million acres. While state officials hail the sale as a milestone for energy security, environmental groups and Indigenous organizations are mounting legal challenges over the impact on critical arctic habitats.