Norway Pushes Arctic Drilling Ahead Despite EU Opposition

Norway’s Energy Minister Terje Aasland says the country will continue developing oil and gas in the Barents Sea despite EU calls for a moratorium on Arctic hydrocarbons, abandoning its previous stance of acting as Europe’s “green battery.” He argues this Barents Sea activity serves both Norwegian and European energy security as Europe remains heavily dependent on Norwegian gas, a role that expanded after Russia’s 2022 invasion. Oslo notes that while EU policymakers have environmental concerns about Arctic drilling, producing oil and LNG from the Barents Sea could be directed to markets worldwide if the EU rejects Norwegian exports, stressing flexibility rather than a disruption to European security. Norway projects continued petroleum production and exports at roughly current levels through at least 2035, with Barents Sea output deemed central to maintaining supplies unless new resources are found. Equinor’s CEO Anders Opedal reinforced that Barents Sea oil and LNG can be shipped globally if the EU cuts the Arctic, underscoring the potential impact on European energy security and the Arctic policy debate in Brussels.