ROME, May 2 (Reuters) - An Italian regional court has thrown...

ROME, May 2 (Reuters) - An Italian regional court has thrown out an appeal by local municipalities against oil and gas exploration permits granted to Australia's Global Petroleum Limited (GBP) , according to a ruling seen by Reuters.

The ruling said the municipalities had claimed Global Petroleum had made four different requests to carry out seismic exploration in the Adriatic sea in an area that covered a total of almost 3,000 square kilometres.

According to the municipalities, as reported in the ruling, the aim had been to get round rules forbidding research in single areas of more than 750 square kilometres.

The ruling coalition of populist 5-Star Movement and right-wing League wants to boost the role of renewable energy in Italy's energy mix.

They recently introduced legislation forbidding new oil and gas exploration off Italian coasts that has left uncertainty hanging over the industry.