A vote in Italy to curtail the duration of existing drilling concessions in territorial workers has failed.
Italian Premier Matteo Renzi said the jobs of oil workers had been preserved after the referendum failed to reach a quorom of more than 50%.
In December, the politician’s government agreed to extend all existing 30-year concessions within 12 miles of the shore until the resources were exhausted, while at the same time banning all future exploration and drilling in territorial waters.
Voters were then asked if they wanted to revoke the extension.
Nine regional governments opposed the extension, expressing concern about safety and the environment and advocating a more coherent renewable energy policy.
Italy currently imports 90% of its oil and gas and the amount of resources subject to the vote was only 3% of its annual domestic demand for gas and 1% of its annual demand for oil in 2015.