US receives bids to drill in Gulf of Mexico

Government receives $1.7bn in winning bids to drill in new areas of Gulf of Mexico, scene of BP's 2010 oil disaster.

The US government has offered up new areas of the central Gulf of Mexico for drilling for the first time since the 2010 BP oil disaster in the area and received $1.7bn in winning bids, officials have said.

Environmental groups tried to block the long-awaited sale by filing a lawsuit earlier this week, arguing that it will endanger the already damaged ecosystem.

"The government is gambling with the Gulf by encouraging even more offshore drilling in the same exceedingly deep waters that have already proven to be treacherous, rather than investing in safer clean energy that creates jobs without risking lives and livelihoods," said Jacqueline Savitz, vice president for North America at Oceana, one of five groups filing the suit.

"This move sets us up for another disastrous oil spill, threatening more human lives, livelihoods, industries and marine life, including endangered species, in the greedy rush to expand offshore drilling."