Norway awards 53 oil and gas production licenses

The Norwegian Ministry of Energy has awarded 53 new oil and gas production licenses on the Norwegian continental shelf, according to a press release.

The new licenses were awarded as part of the annual licensing cycle. In total, 20 companies were awarded one or more licenses. Most of the licenses, 33, are in the North Sea, with the remainder in the Norwegian Sea (19) and the Barents Sea (1).

“We need new discoveries so that Norway can continue to be a stable and predictable supplier of oil and gas to Europe. It is therefore very positive to see so much interest in new exploration areas,” said Terje Aasland, Minister of Energy.

Companies awarded licenses include Aker BP (19 in total) and Vår Energi, which received 16 licenses. Equinor, DNO and ConocoPhilips have also obtained licenses.

“We are very pleased with the award announced today. It reflects comprehensive demand and gives us a basis to maintain our growth ambition on the Norwegian continental shelf and our ambitious exploration strategy,” said Øyvind Seljebotn, Director of Aker BP exploration.

Last year, Norway awarded 62 licenses to 24 companies. A production license allows its holder to explore, drill and produce within the geographic area of ​​the license.