Norway Intends to Open Part of the Shelf for Commercial Production
The Norwegian government is proposing to open up part of the Norwegian continental shelf to commercial mining on the seabed, which would be an important decision for a green transition, the kingdom’s government said in a statement.
“We need minerals to successfully implement the green transition. Resources are currently controlled by several countries, which makes us vulnerable. Seabed minerals can provide access to critical metals, and no other country is better placed to to take a leading role in the sustainable and responsible management of such resources,” Minister of Petroleum and Energy Terje Aasland said in the message.
In addition, the government is ready to present a strategy that demonstrates how Norway aims to become a world leader in evidence-based and knowledge-based seabed mineral resource management. The authorities assure that environmental considerations will be respected and mining will only be allowed if the industry can demonstrate sustainable development and responsible attitude.
As noted in the Ministry of Energy, Norway has significant prospective mineral resources on the seabed. If proven profitable, seabed mining could help create value and employment in Norway while supplying critical metals for the global energy transition. Mining at the bottom can become a new and important industry for Norway, according to the government.
“In order to gain more knowledge, we need to gather experience and open the seabed for commercial mapping, exploration and mining. Therefore, we propose to open a zone on the Norwegian continental shelf for mining,” Aasland said.
