Norwegen bietet bis zu 70 neue Öl- und Gasbohrgenehmigungen an

[Translated from NRK:](https://www.nrk.no/rogaland/regjeringen-med-storoffensiv_-gjenapner-tre-gassfelt-og-utvider-letearealet-kraftig-1.17871553)

The Government revives ‘dead’ gas fields: aims to supply Europe with more energy

The Government is reopening three gas fields in order to secure additional energy supplies for Europe. At the same time, exploration for further oil and gas is to be undertaken across 70 new areas, unusually close to the coastline.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre attended a meeting with the petroleum industry in Stavanger on Tuesday, alongside the Minister of Energy. The Government intends to reopen three former fields in the Ekofisk area of the North Sea, with the aim of supplying a strained Europe with Norwegian gas.

“We are living in turbulent times,” said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

The Government has today approved development plans for the three gas fields Albuskjell, Vest Ekofisk, and Tommeliten Gamma, all located in the southern part of the North Sea.

These fields were originally shut down in 1998. The decision to invest approximately 19 billion kroner in their reactivation is driven in particular by the situation in Europe.

It is expected that between 90 and 120 million barrels of oil equivalent will be extracted. The fields will primarily produce gas, though also some condensate.

Production is scheduled to commence at the end of 2028, continuing until 2048. The development is expected to generate approximately 7,600 man-years of employment over the lifetime of the fields. The gas will be transported by pipeline to Germany, whilst condensate will be sent to the United Kingdom.

Oil and gas prices have risen sharply following the attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel on 28 February. Petroleum companies are currently producing at full capacity and benefiting from sustained high prices.

In parallel with the reopening of these mature fields, the Government has decided to permit further exploration for oil and gas.

A total of 70 new “blocks”—areas of the seabed in which companies may apply for exploration rights—have been announced. These are distributed as follows:

38 blocks in the Barents Sea

10 blocks in the Norwegian Sea

22 blocks in the North Sea

Never before has exploration been opened so close to the coastline.

The licensing rounds (TFO—Awards in Predefined Areas) are a regular annual process in which the State grants petroleum companies permission to explore in well-known offshore regions.

Opposition parties have reacted strongly.

Critics from environmental parties have described the decision as “reckless” and a “climate tragedy,” arguing that it ignores expert environmental advice and places vulnerable natural areas at risk.

Government representatives, however, argue that Norwegian oil and gas are essential for European energy security, particularly in light of the war in Ukraine and instability in the Middle East.

According to the Government, continued petroleum production will safeguard value creation, employment, and energy stability for Europe in the decades ahead.

Ironically, opponents of the gas industry in Australia, believe we should be more like Norway.

Climate activists when oil comes from a middle east dictatorship instead to their own country 😍

All this because the communists were too stupid to boil water back in the day, and now we have irrational nuclear energy paranoia.

it look like if Oil comes from European countries it pollutes less than when it comes from other countries

US special military operation in Norway wasn’t on my bingo card 2026 /s

FREUDE

Good. UK, France and others should follow this.