On Tuesday, it became known that the government will tighten up on oil exploration. – We are not going to announce the 26th licensing round in this parliamentary term. SV was very keen on that, and they have received approval for that, said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre at the press conference on the national budget. SV has therefore received approval for no new permits to search for oil and gas being granted until 2026 at the earliest in so-called immature areas. Concession rounds Concession rounds There are two types of concession rounds on the NCS, numbered rounds and allocations in predefined areas (TFO). The numbered, ordinary license rounds are usually announced every two years and cover immature areas. Allocations in predefined areas (TFO) are announced annually and include the mature parts of the shelf. (Source: Norwegian Petroleum Directorate) It will turn out badly for the oil and gas industry, and it is negative for the European energy crisis, according to Ståle Kyllingstad. He is CEO of the IKM group and chairman of Norsk Industri. – I think it is very worrying that the government is kneeling down for SV. The world and Europe need energy, and we have to look to find more, says Kyllingstad. In the first instance, Kyllingstad says that it is the exploration companies that will suffer the hardest, but that it will spread further. – It really affects everyone. There will be less exploration, and there will be a limitation in the long-term outlook that the drilling companies want, he says. Reacts strongly The trade union SAFE also reacts strongly. Hilde-Marit Rysst, who is a leader in the union, calls it a crisis. Hilde-Marit Rysst, confederation leader in SAFE. Photo: Rolv Christian Topdahl / news – This is completely unacceptable. We depend on having exploration licenses to find new reservoirs to produce and to assist Europe as the power and energy supplier we have promised to be. Hildegunn Blindheim, who is CEO of Offshore Norway, believes that the industry needs predictability. – It is very worrying that the budget negotiations are once again weakening and creating doubts about the framework conditions for energy policy at a time when stability is needed. LO leader Peggy Hessen Følsvik criticizes her own government. – LO has a congressional resolution which states that we shall develop, not liquidate, the petroleum industry. We understood a postponement of the 26th licensing round at the previous crossroads, but this postponement sends an unfortunate signal. Norway must be a stable and long-term supplier of energy to Europe, says Hessen Følsvik. Believes it will affect Norwegian workplaces In the press conference, Jonas Gahr Støre emphasized that they will have allocations in predefined areas, so-called TFO rounds. – I want to stress to Ap, Sp and the government that it is important that we have a high level and a stable level of activity on the Norwegian continental shelf, Gahr Støre said at the press conference. The opposition party Frp is strongly critical. Terje Halleland, spokesperson for energy policy in the Frp. Photo: Even Lusæter / news – Tonight there is a party in Moscow. Putin’s regime is the only one who benefits from the fact that the government and SV are now tightening up the search for oil and gas. The government cannot possibly have learned anything from the serious security situation we find ourselves in as a result of the energy policy that has been pursued in Europe, says FRP energy policy spokesperson Terje Halleland. He believes the postponement will affect Norwegian jobs, value creation and the export of critically important energy to Europe. – Norway’s ugliest contribution to the climate crisis But not everyone is unhappy with today’s news. Anja Bakken Riise, who is the leader of Fremtiden i være hande, hopes that the time of concession rounds is over. – It is deeply unfair that Norway, through its oil extraction, delivers climate change on a conveyor belt to countries that have no opportunity to protect themselves. It is high time that we take a step in the right direction, a step away from the oil age. Anja Bakken Riise, leader of the Future in our hands. Photo: André Børke She believes that investment must now be made in renewable energy that creates jobs and supplies the energy we need. – Fossil energy is Norway’s ugliest contribution to the climate crisis. An important breakthrough for the environmental movement came even before the budget agreement, namely that the pressure to scrap the Wisting oil field has succeeded. The fact that SV now also ensures that the 26th licensing round is postponed throughout the entire parliamentary term takes us one step further in the transition. Natur og Ungdom believes the oil lobby is exaggerating the consequences of the postponement. Simon Balsnes, 1st deputy head of Nature and Youth. Photo: Jørgen Næss Karlsen/Nature and Youth – Fields from new license rounds will not be in production for another 10-15 years. It has little to do with the acute energy crisis Europe is facing, says Simon Balsnes, deputy head of Nature and Youth. On 23 June 2021, seven companies were offered shares in a total of four extraction licenses on the Norwegian continental shelf in the 25th licensing round. Ståle Kyllingstad believes we need gas to supplement environmentally friendly wind and solar energy. – Everyone now sees that the world and especially Europe needs energy, and there is no doubt that we as a country are the best option at the moment. I think it’s very, very sad.
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SV has received approval for the postponement of the 26th licensing round – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
