Norway’s latest offshore oil and gas exploration licensing round has attracted bids from 25 companies, including prominent names like Shell, ConocoPhillips, Aker BP, and Equinor, according to the country’s energy ministry. This annual licensing round is a central part of Norway’s strategy to extend oil and gas production for several decades, despite opposition from environmental groups concerned about its impact on the climate.

The energy ministry offered 92 new blocks for exploration in the Norwegian and Barents Seas as part of the so-called pre-defined areas (APA) exploration round. This move aims to maintain production and further develop the petroleum sector, which supports numerous jobs in the industry. Despite protests over the environmental consequences of oil and gas extraction, Norway has been expanding exploration in recent years, particularly in the Arctic Barents Sea.

The latest offering included 78 new blocks in the western part of the Barents Sea and 14 blocks in the northwestern part of the Norwegian Sea, adding to the existing APA area. The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate noted that almost all companies active on the Norwegian Continental Shelf submitted bids, with increased interest in the Barents Sea. The exact number of blocks bid for by companies was not disclosed.

Vaar Energi, majority-owned by Eni, along with DNO, OMV, Okea, and Wintershall Dea, were among the bidders in the round. The winners of the new acreage are expected to be announced by early 2024. This licensing round is an integral part of Norway’s approach to balancing its economic interests in the oil and gas sector with the global imperative to address climate concerns.