The fight to free itself from dependence on gas from, for example, Russia is prompting the government to take new steps.
The government will investigate whether licenses to extract oil and gas in the Danish part of the North Sea can be extended beyond 2042, when the current licenses expire.
- If Denmark can contribute to Europe's energy supply, then we must do so, even if we want to be climate neutral in 2045.
- Therefore, the government will investigate whether it makes sense to extend one or more licenses - not for Denmark's sake, but for Europe's, says Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities Lars Aagaard (M) in a press release.
The government will discuss a possible extension of licenses in the North Sea with the parties behind the North Sea Agreement.
Green energy is not enough
A broad majority in the Danish Parliament agreed in 2020, that Denmark should not extract oil and gas in the North Sea after 2050.
- I would have preferred that Europe could make do with green energy. But the reality is different, and I fundamentally believe that it is better for Europe to get gas from Denmark than from countries outside our continent.
- I will discuss this decision with the parties behind the North Sea Agreement and with an eye on our climate goals, says Lars Aagaard.
Among others, the Confederation of Danish Industry has requested that it should be possible to extract oil and gas until the final stop in 2050.
DI is satisfied with the government's announcement.
- It is simply a societal necessity that we do everything in our power to become energy independent.
- The clarification process and the framework within which it must be done must of course be thorough, but there is also a need for a high pace, says Troels Ranis, Director of DI Energy, in a written comment.
Joy at TotalEnergies
The same tone is heard from Ole Hansen, CEO of TotalEnergie's oil and gas business in Denmark.
- It is very gratifying that the government has positively accepted our wish to ensure continued oil and gas production within the framework of the North Sea Agreement until 2050.
- For us in DUC (Danish Underground Consortium, ed.), it has been important to clarify how we in Denmark can achieve the greatest value from the North Sea Agreement, while we transition to an energy system based on renewable energy, he says in a written comment.
On the other hand, there is no enthusiasm to be found in the Unity List, which wants to call Lars Aagaard into consultation on the matter.
- It is a mockery of Danish climate policy that the government is now, with its eyes open, pressing the fossil accelerator to the bottom.
- It is, in short, a knee-jerk reaction to climate-damaging fossil lobbyists and an expression of a total lack of climate policy integrity, says climate spokesperson Leila Stockmarr (EL) in a written comment.
The Unity Party is not among the parties that are part of the North Sea Agreement.
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