The Norwegian government has approved the reopening of three decommissioned gas fields on Tuesday, with planned start-up in 2028. The Norwegian Ministry of Energy writes on its website.
The three gas fields, Vest Ekofisk, Albuskjell and Tommeliten Gamma, were closed in 1998, but according to Norway's Energy Minister, Terje Aasland, the reopening will contribute to energy security in Europe.
- Norwegian production of oil and gas is an important contribution to Europe's energy security. The development of new gas fields helps Norway maintain high supplies in the long term. This has become more important after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East, says Terje Aasland.
The gas from the three fields, all located in the southern part of the North Sea, will be exported to the UK and Germany. The plan is to extract gas from the underground until 2048.
The government will invest 19 billion Norwegian kroner - 13.1 billion Danish kroner - in expanding four port facilities as part of the reopening of the three fields.
Also opens for exploration in 70 new areas
At the same time as the old fields are reopened, the government has approved that oil companies can be allowed to search for oil and gas in 70 new blocks on the seabed. The new blocks are located in the North Sea, the Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea.
According to the media NRK, several of the areas are located close to the coast. The state's environmental experts strongly advise against offering the areas closest to the coast, writes NRK. Opposition politician Lars Halbrekken from the Socialist Left Party (SV) criticizes the government's decision.
- If permits are granted to drill for oil here, the government is preparing for a gigantic environmental disaster with its eyes wide open. It's unbelievable, Lars Halbrekken tells NRK.
The prices of gas and oil have risen sharply in recent months after the US and Israel launched military attacks on Iran on February 28. The conflict has meant that traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has been closed for a long period.
Around a fifth of the world's normal oil consumption passed through the strait before the conflict.
/ritzau/
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