The Norwegian Ministry of Vitality has allotted 57 new manufacturing licences to 19 firms as a part of the Awards in Predefined Areas (APA) 2025 licensing spherical pertaining to the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS).
This announcement underscores Norway’s ongoing technique to take care of its place as a key vitality provider to Europe amid anticipated declines in manufacturing within the coming years.
Of the newly issued licences, 31 are positioned within the North Sea, 21 within the Norwegian Sea and 5 within the Barents Sea.
Norway Minister of Vitality Terje Aasland mentioned: “Norway is Europe’s most essential vitality provider, however in a number of years manufacturing will start to say no. Subsequently, we’d like new tasks that may gradual the decline and ship as a lot manufacturing as doable.
“As we speak, we’re providing 57 new manufacturing licences to 19 firms.
“It is a vital contribution to making sure continued exercise within the oil and fuel business. That exercise is essential for jobs, worth creation and Europe’s vitality safety.”
The licensing course of follows pointers set by the Norwegian Parliament that outline areas the place new manufacturing licences could also be awarded.
The APA scheme is an annual exploration initiative that goals to encourage exploration and useful resource extraction inside designated areas on the NCS.
Every licence comes with an compulsory work programme meant to make sure both growth or relinquishment of land again to the state.
In complete, 13 firms have been granted operatorships among the many provided licences.
Norwegian Offshore Directorate laws, licence and space administration director Kalmar Ildstad mentioned: “This 12 months’s awards present that the businesses nonetheless see the potential for worthwhile exploration in mature areas. Assets confirmed close to established installations might be essential to make sure excessive worth creation and efficient utilisation of infrastructure shifting ahead.
“It is usually encouraging that a number of firms have submitted functions to conduct new assessments of discoveries with tight reservoirs, the place manufacturing has to this point been deemed unlikely.”
The APA licensing rounds started in 2003 to facilitate useful resource discovery in mature areas earlier than current infrastructure is decommissioned.
The rounds happen yearly inside predefined zones for consistency and predictability. The APA space expands primarily based on evaluations of an space’s maturity and useful resource urgency.
Public consultations preceded the announcement of APA 2025, with a deadline for functions set for two September 2025, by which period 20 firms had submitted their curiosity.
