Norway offers record number of blocks oil exploration in Arctic
Reuters reported that Norway offered a record number of blocks for oil and gas exploration in the Arctic Barents Sea, brushing off concerns about the risks of drilling in the remote, icy environment. The oil ministry proposed 102 blocks, comprising 93 in the Barents Sea and nine in the Norwegian Sea, despite calls from the Norway's Environment Agency to remove about 20 blocks near Bear Island, an important nesting site for Arctic birds. The ministry said that the application deadline for Norway's 24th Arctic licensing round is Nov. 30 and the aim is to announce awards during the first half of 2018.
The country's Petroleum Directorate, which regulates the industry, said drilling in the Barents Sea was Norway's best chance of making new oil and gas discoveries. The NPD said in a statement "Therefore it's important to facilitate acreage for exploration in this area. There's great interest, which also reflects the fact that 2017 is set to become a record year for exploration in the Barents Sea."
The latest offer drew sharp criticism from environmentalists, who said Western Europe's top oil and gas producer was ignoring the 2015 Paris climate agreement.
Mr Truls Gulowsen, head of Greenpeace Norway, said that "This is an attack on the environment. It's a confirmation that the Norwegian government doesn't take their own climate commitments from Paris seriously."
The Paris Agreement sets a goal of limiting the rise in global temperatures to well below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit), ideally 1.5 (2.7F), above pre-industrial levels. Temperatures have already risen about 1 degree (1.8F). Norway's petroleum sector contributes about 28 of the country's total emissions, which have to be limited according to the Paris Agreement.
Source : Reuters