By Sarah Kent

Australia's oil and gas regulator on Wednesday threw a wrench in BP PLC's (BP) plans to drill deepwater exploration wells off the country's southern coast, delaying approval until it gets more information on how the company intends to manage the environmental risks attached to the controversial project.

The British oil giant's plan to explore for oil in the Great Australian Bight--a pristine stretch of ocean that is a haven for several species of whale, as well as sea lions and other wildlife--has been widely criticized by environmentalists who fear the impact of a deep-sea blowout in the region.

The Australian regulator has given BP month to provide additional information before reconsidering the company's proposal.

"This is not a rejection or an acceptance -- it is a request to clarify aspects of our plan and for us to provide information that has not been included in the plan," BP said in a statement. The company had planned to start drilling in the summer of 2016 to 2017.

Write to Sarah Kent at Sarah.Kent@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 28, 2016 06:08 ET (10:08 GMT)

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