Norway: Labor Party against Lofoten oil & gas drilling

Norwegian Labor Party over the weekend said it no longer supported impact assessment that might open the environmentally sensitive Lofoten, Vesterålen and Senja Islands in the Norwegian Arctic for offshore oil and gas exploration.

The move was welcomed by the environmental protection groups but, as expected, not welcomed by the oil industry.

The Lofoten area has been estimated to hold billions of barrels of oil, however, in order for any exploration to take place there, it must be subject to an impact assessment with a view to future activity, which the Labor Party said it won’t support.

Environment conservation groups have campaigned for years to keep the area free from the oil and gas business, warning that the oil and gas activity might jeopardize the area’s high marine biodiversity as well as fisheries and tourism.

“The sea areas of Nordland VI, Nordland VII, and Troms II are vulnerable sea areas, and continued uncertainty about the impact assessment of the oil and gas business is getting in the way of developing other industries in the areas.

“The Labor Party will therefore not support the impact assessment of petroleum activity by Nordland VI, VII and Troms II.”

“The Labor Party advocates the development of other industries in these marine areas, including fisheries, tourism and the development of renewable resources,” the party says on its website.

Karl Eirik Schjøtt-Pedersen, CEO of the Norwegian Oil and Gas Industry Association, said the move entailed unpredictability for the oil industry in the country.

“There are over 200,000 employees in the oil industry. They need stable framework conditions,” he said.

“The whole industry is surprised and disappointed that the Labor Party is changing a parliamentary election program in the middle of the period. It does not provide the predictability we depend on,” he said.

Oil workers’ union Industri Energi is also disappointed by the Labor Party “unnecessary” decision.

“We expect Norwegian petroleum policy to be based on knowledge, and not based on emotions and symbols…”

He said the union would continue to fight for a breakthrough in the petroleum policy both in the Labor Party and in the other parties.

Offshore Energy Today Staff

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