The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy has announced the 21st Licensing Round, comprising 94 blocks or parts of blocks in the Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea, 6 fewer than first planned.
This announcement will provide a basis for awards to oil companies during spring of 2011.
Among the six blocks left out are several blocks near Lofoten and Vesterålen, important spawning grounds for vulnerable fish stocks. However, critics point out that the Government has opened for exploration on several of the blocks against the advice of their own experts.
Lars Haltbrekken of the Friends of the Earth Norway (Naturvernforbundet), says it is well and good that the Government has reduced their original plans, but says this is far from enough.
Several opposition politicians have also voiced their criticism, saying it would have been better to wait with the announcement, and learn from the blow-out in the Mexican Gulf.
However, the Government says this will be taken into account:
- The 21st Licensing round will be concluded in light of what we are now experiencing in the Gulf of Mexico. Before awarding licenses in the 21st licensing round, I will ensure I have deeper knowledge about the accident, says the Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Mr. Terje Riis-Johansen.
The majority of available blocks in the 21st licensing round are located in the Barents Sea. The Barents Sea is the least explored petroleum province on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The 21st licensing round opens up for further exploration of this petroleum province.
- It is essential that the petroleum activity creates economic activity on land, both in order to create legitimacy in areas with petroleum activity, and especially to enhance growth and jobs in the whole of Norway. I hope this announcement will contibute to more economic activity and jobs in Norhern Norway, says the Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Mr. Terje Riis-Johansen.
