Norway looking for oil in Lofoten
Norwegian Minister of oil and energy Åslaug Haga says she is sceptical towards oil exploration in the Lofoten areas outside northern Norway. At the same time, the government continues to support the ongoing seismic studies in the area.
In the background lures StatoilHydro and the Norwegian petroleum establishment, which sees the Lofoten area as one of the most promising areas on the Norwegian shelf. StatoilHydro CEO Helge Lund has openly said that his company is stepping up pressure on the authorities for an opening of the areas.
According to newspaper Dagens Næringsliv, the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate will start collecting 2D-seismics in the area “Nordland VII” outside Lofoten and Vesterålen about 15 May and 3D-seismics in the Troms II area in June. In addition, the Norwegian oil and energy ministry has this year initiated twice as much oil exploration on the shelf as last year.
Meanwhile, the Norwegian fish industry is protesting the petroleum-related activities in the area. At its recent annual assembly the Norwegian Seafood Federation left no doubt that it is strongly against any oil-related operations in the area Lofoten, Tromsøflaket og på Mørebankene outside northern Norway.
The resource-rich and vulnerable Lofoten waters have been protected against drilling in line with the recommendations in a management plan for the area. However, a the plan is to be reviewed by 2010, and changes in the official policy line might then be altered.
Read the Norwegian plan on Integrated Management of the Marine Environment of the Barents Sea and the Sea Areas off the Lofoten Islands here
Map: npd.no
