UN might save Lofoten from Big Oil
The Norwegian Minister of Environment this week encouraged local authorities in the Lofoten archipelago in northern Norway to apply to the UNESCO for listing in the World Heritage survey. The listing might make it far harder for the oil companies to get access to the abundant hydrocarbons in the area.
Minister Erik Solheim surprised both cabinet colleagues and the powerful Norwegian oil industry when he this week proposed to local municipalities in the Lofoten area to apply to the UNESCO for World Heritage status. The listing could complicate the oil industry’s campaign for access to the area. StatoilHydro and other companies are lobbying Norwegian authorities for access to the area, believed to hide major amounts of oil. The fish industry, environmental groups and a growing part of the local population is however highly sceptical towards the oil industry, which they fear might disrupt the vulnerable marine environment in the area. Mr. Erik Solheim visited the Lofoten municipalities on Tuesday this week. – I am sceptical towards opening up for oil drilling, the minister said to the local authorities. – Norway is not committed to extract every drop of oil it finds, he added. He believes it will be impossible to start oil extraction in coastal areas in the area, should it be included in the World Heritage list. The Lofoten archipelago is highly picturesque with its high mountain, islands and fjords. Thousands of tourists every year visit the area.
