Norwegian right-wing with a new idea for oil. Concrete proposals unveiled

In an interview with NTB, Listhaug stated that it is politicians who decide the future of the oil industry in Norway. According to her, the country can maintain high levels of oil and gas production if more exploration areas are made available. The Progress Party wants to reopen several areas that were previously approved for exploration but later closed due to political decisions. The topic is also expected to be addressed during the party leader's speech at the Offshore Norway industry conference in Oslo.

The Progress Party proposes including several areas in the 26th licensing round. These include previously opened parts of the Nordland VI region, the Møreblokkene area off the coast of Møre, and the Skagerrak basin between Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. These areas had already been approved for exploration but were later closed. The party wants the government to announce a new licensing round as early as 2026.

Frp also proposes conducting environmental analyses for additional areas. This concerns the Troms II and Nordland VII regions. The analyses would also cover unexplored parts of Nordland VI, Møreblokkene, and the northern part of the Barents Sea. According to Listhaug, new discoveries could help maintain production levels in the future.

The leader of the Progress Party believes that a decline in oil production on the Norwegian shelf is not inevitable. In her view, everything depends on political decisions and the conditions created for exploration companies. She emphasizes that Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre's Labour Party government has repeatedly declared further development of the oil sector. She calls on the Prime Minister to back up these declarations with concrete actions.

Listhaug also points to the international situation. In her opinion, events in the Middle East highlight the importance of stable energy supplies. Norwegian gas is expected to play a role in Europe's energy transition. The politician also stresses the importance of Norway's presence in the north in the context of security.

The Progress Party's proposals are controversial because some of the indicated areas include sensitive fishing grounds. However, Listhaug emphasizes that the fishing sector and the oil industry can function side by side. She points out that both sectors have coexisted on the Norwegian shelf for about 60 years. In her opinion, further action requires balancing resource exploitation with the protection of other branches of the maritime economy.