WASHINGTON, August 18. /TASS/. The US presidential administration has issued a permit to Royal Dutch Shell energy giant to drill for oil in the Arctic Ocean, the Politico newspaper has reported.

"The Obama administration on Monday gave Shell the go-ahead to expand its multibillion-dollar attempt at Arctic offshore oil drilling," the report reads.

Royal Dutch Shell will be allowed to drill into the oil-and gas-bearing zones in Alaska’s Chukchi Sea. The company drilled there between in 1989-1990 and found natural gas and signs that there could be oil there.

The energy giant’s hopes are high for a significant discovery.