Norway winds down
Fresh developments in the Arctic promise new production, but enthusiasm for fresh licenses has waned
A decline in applications for production licenses in Norway's latest oil and gas auction suggests that appetite for fresh exploration on the Norwegian continental shelf may have passed its peak. However, existing offshore discoveries are still being converted into substantial developments. The number of companies who applied for acreage in the 24th oil and gas licensing round plummeted to just 11, down from 26 in the previous round. Applicants this time included Statoil and mid-sized Norway specialists Aker BP and Lundin, as well as Shell, Centrica, OMV, Wintershall and Kuwait's Kufpec. Also in the list was Rosneft's Norwegian subsidiary, RN Nordic, which together with a proposed deal under

Also in this section
1 April 2025
There is method to the US president’s apparent madness, and those seeking to understand need look no further than their local bookshop
1 April 2025
Strong economic growth targets are encouraging for the country’s energy demand growth, even if meeting those goals might be a tall order
28 March 2025
The Central Asian country is positioning itself as a low-carbon leader, but antiquated infrastructure and a dependence on Russia are holding it back
28 March 2025
MCEDD 2025 took place in Madrid this week with record attendance and a wide-ranging programme, reflecting the deepwater sector’s renewed momentum, strategic focus and accelerating technological innovation.