The matter in summary The government parties Ap and Sp have secured a majority in the Storting to open up extraction on the seabed, with the support of the Conservative Party and the FRP. The area the government wants to open up for exploration is 281,000 square kilometers and lies in the Barents Sea and the Greenland Sea. Stricter environmental requirements must be imposed, and the first extraction plans must be approved by the Storting. Extraction on the seabed is controversial, and the Norwegian Environment Agency believes that there is too little knowledge about how to conduct mineral activities in a responsible manner. Several environmental organizations and political parties are critical of the decision, and believe it is a game of chance with nature, wildlife and fish stocks. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. In June, the government presented plans for extraction on the seabed. To large protests. It was then uncertain whether the Storting would support the plans. But today it became known that a majority in the Storting has reached an agreement on a step-by-step opening for extraction on the seabed. It is Ap, Høyre, Sp and Frp who, after several weeks of negotiations, have agreed to support an opening, but with a strict framework. This has been agreed by the majority in the Storting if the Storting opens up parts of the Norwegian continental shelf for seabed mineral activities. The ministry announces specific areas for extraction permits, where the first phase is an exploration phase, where private players can secure rights. A work program must be drawn up for the exploration phase, and the Storting majority has made it clear that requirements for the environment and environmental mapping must be made as part of the work programme. When announcing the area, it must be made clear that consideration of national security will be a criterion when granting extraction permits. If exploration has more serious environmental consequences than expected, the requirements for the environment and environmental monitoring, both during and after the data collection, must be tightened. The first plans for the extraction of seabed minerals are presented to the Storting as a proposal before the ministry approves the extraction plan according to §4-4 of the Seabed Minerals Act. In its proposals to the Storting on the first extraction plans, the Government will refer to the following; Increased knowledge of possible consequences on the environment, natural diversity and other business activities such as fisheries, with different technologies for extraction. Clear, verifiable requirements for a plan for extraction, cf. Section 4-4 of the Seabed Minerals Act, and confirm that the extraction plans meet these. Necessary clarifications of the environmental legislation that applies to the business as far as necessary. In the process that is planned, the state will collate the data from its own and private surveys, and eventually present an overall updated knowledge base and specific requirements for extraction. The actors can then submit extraction plans to the ministry and the Storting for approval. It is the requirements drawn up by the ministry that are the basis for any approval. It is important that the requirements are clear and verifiable, so that predictability is created for actors who want to apply. If strict requirements are met, extraction will be approved in certain areas where the impact on the environment is sustainable and justifiable. The majority believes that this is a sound framework that both ensures that environmental considerations are taken care of throughout the process, that Norway gains more knowledge about mineral deposits, the environment and species diversity in the deep sea, while at the same time that players in the industry gain sufficient predictability to invest in a new industry that can contribute to great value creation in the future. The precautionary principle has been decisive in the negotiations. We agree that there is a significant lack of knowledge related to environmental conditions in deep sea areas and the consequences of an extraction. This uncertainty therefore means that they have agreed that the government will send the first extraction plans to the Storting for approval. The goal for the parties is that the framework for mineral activities on the Norwegian continental shelf should contribute to high environmental standards for such activities also internationally, based on Norway’s unique tradition and knowledge of sustainable management of marine areas and activities on the continental shelf. Source: AP, Høyre, SP and FrP Important contribution internationally Bård Ludvig Thorheim (H) said during the press conference that a lot of work has been done since this summer to put in place a framework they could support. – Since then it has been important for us to listen to the input that came in the consultation rounds, says Bård Ludvig Thorheim during the press conference. He elaborates on how they will work going forward: – We are now setting clearer requirements for the environment and environmental mapping, and we are introducing a new step where the first plans for extraction must be returned and approved by the Storting. Extraction shall only be permitted if future knowledge shows that it can be done sustainably and responsibly, and after the government has presented an updated knowledge base on the environment in the deep seas. The area the government wants to open up for exploration is 281,000 square kilometers and lies in the Barents Sea and the Greenland Sea. Photo: Norwegian Petroleum Directorate / NPD Marianne Sivertsen Næss (Ap) emphasizes that they are very happy that there is a broad majority in favor of the agreement. – We have been concerned that this is an opening that will ensure that we will find out whether it is actually possible to extract minerals in a profitable, sustainable and responsible way, she says. – Then it is important that there is a broad majority who stand behind it. Næss says the players must now acquire knowledge about the environment, ecosystem and bottom conditions in the exploration phase. Offshore Norway happy with the majority: Håkon Knudsen Toven, Head of Seabed Minerals at Offshore Norway says they are very happy with the broad majority. – It is very good that a broad majority has now come to an agreement on the progress of a possible opening for seabed minerals. It provides predictability which is important for companies that want to invest in a potential new industry on the Norwegian continental shelf, says Håkon Knudsen Toven, Head of Seabed Minerals at Offshore Norway. – If the world is to reach net zero in 2050, there will be a need for much larger quantities of metals and minerals than the world uses today. When we know that China already controls over 50 percent of the market, it should be a stated goal to reduce this dominance and it is good that the Storting takes political responsibility. We do not have enough knowledge about the deep sea. That is why this decision is so important. The increased environmental standards could be important for attracting the most serious players who are concerned with a sustainable framework and setting higher international standards, concludes Toven. – At the same time, it must be ensured that state authorities continue the acquisition of knowledge, which it is absolutely essential to get in place, says Næss, before clarifying that we need more minerals in the future: – On the seabed there are important minerals we need to build wind turbines, solar panels and electricity cars, which will be crucial to achieving our climate goals without making us dependent on minerals from a few countries outside the West. We also use minerals in a number of everyday products – such as water pipes, lifts, batteries or mobile phones. Step-by-step opening The parties have agreed on a step-by-step opening process where the Storting will approve the first extraction plans, in the same way as is done for certain plans in the oil sector. This, they believe, will provide a known and predictable framework for business operators. In contrast to the original proposal from the government, the parties have agreed on stricter environmental requirements and that the first extraction plans must go through the Storting for approval. In a report from the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate that was presented earlier this year, there are enormous mineral resources on the Norwegian continental shelf. Among other things, millions of tonnes of copper, zinc and cobalt, which are greatly needed in the green shift. But extraction on the seabed is controversial as we do not know the consequences it may have for the marine environment. The Norwegian Environment Agency believes that there is far too little knowledge about how to conduct mineral activities in a responsible manner to allow for exploration on the Norwegian continental shelf. Incomprehensible The area the government wants to open up for exploration is 281,000 square kilometers and lies in the Barents Sea and the Greenland Sea. The four parties believe that the opening of areas is necessary to ensure a closer mapping of the sea areas, precisely in order to gain enough knowledge. Environmental policy spokesman Lars Haltbrekken in SV believes it is incomprehensible that the Norwegian authorities are in the first place to destroy the seabed. – Environmental scientists have issued strong warnings. We have no idea of the consequences of such operations and there are no environmental requirements for the operations. Environmental policy spokesperson in SV, Lars Haltbrekken. Photo: Dan Robert Larsen / news He continues: – What the Labor Party and the Center Party are opening up with this agreement with the right is an experiment of unimaginable dimensions. We risk destroying enormous natural values for uncertain profit. The signal Norway is sending by being the first country to open the seabed to mineral extraction worries me deeply. Like patching up a corpse: Sofie Marhaug, spokesperson for environmental policy and parliamentary representative for Rødt, is upset by the news. – It is absolutely sick what the government, the Conservative Party and the FRP are doing now. This is a black day for Norwegian nature. As one of the very, very few countries in the world, Norway will now open up to looking for minerals in some of the last untouched nature we have, she says. She believes that the changes included in the proposal are like patching up a corpse. – With this, the government, together with the Conservative Party and the FRP, will go down in history as the worst environmental parties ever. She points out that many people are against what Norway is doing. – Nevertheless, the government, together with the Conservative Party and the FRP, should open up the search for minerals that it is uncertain whether we need, without us having knowledge of the consequences this will have for the natural diversity in the sea and for the fisheries, she says, before emphasizing: – This is the nail in the coffin for Norway as an environmental nation. The WWF is not impressed either. – This is the biggest disgrace in Norwegian marine management history in modern times and the nail in the coffin for Norway’s reputation as a responsible port nation, says Secretary General of the WWF World Wildlife Fund, Karoline Andaur. – That the government and parts of the opposition now agree to go ahead with extraction on the seabed against all professional advice and with an impact assessment that has received slaughter from all quarters, is no less than a scandal. Secretary General of the WWF World Wildlife Fund, Karoline Andaur. Photo: WWF She nevertheless gives a bit of praise to the Conservative Party. – The small glimmer of light is that the Conservative Party has ensured that environmental knowledge must be compiled before any extraction takes place. This means a new real stopping point and that the Storting can say no. Rasmus Hansson in the MDG believes that the Conservative Party and the Labor Party in this case are taking the initiative in an industrial race for the resources in the Arctic. – This is a gigantic game of chance with nature, wildlife and fish stocks which are important for both Norway and our neighboring countries. Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland (Ap) tells news that he is happy that there is now a solution to this with seabed minerals. – We want to do this carefully, and we will do it step by step. WE will collect knowledge, and then we will assess whether it is possible to start with this extraction. He believes that such a process is justifiable. – Firstly, it turns out that looking for these minerals does not have a large impact on the environment. Then those who search, and eventually find, must document and legitimize that they can extract this in as sustainable a way as possible before they get approval to extract these minerals. – Do the critics think this is a disaster for the sea? – If we do not extract minerals and become more dependent on China and Russia on the mineral side, then it will also be a disaster. Then we will not be able to carry out the green shift. I think all countries really have an obligation to see if they have minerals they can extract sustainably.
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Majority in Parliament to allow mining on the seabed – news Nordland
