Norway opens the door to oil prospecting in the Arctic

OSLO (AFP) Dec 15, 2003
The Norwegian government on Monday partially opened the door to oil prospecting in its Arctic waters, giving the conditional go-ahead for test drilling in the Barents Sea but ruling it out in waters around the picturesque Lofoten islands.

The Nordland VI block, located southwest of the Lofoten archipelago which is rich in fish stocks and ecologically sensitive, will be closed to further prospecting and its oil reserves will remain untapped, Norway's Oil and Energy Minister Einar Steensnaes told reporters.

Steensnaes said the decision was taken due to the devastating effects that any accident would have on the Lofoten's environment and fishing industry.

According to environmentalists, these waters, where a number of international oil companies are keen to begin drilling, are home to some of the world's largest herring and cod stocks.

However, "large parts of the Barents Sea can be opened for prospecting," Steensnaes said.

TERRA.WIRE