2024-01-18 23:52:27
The Norwegian government should not have approved licenses issued for three oil fields in the North Sea. This was stated by the Norwegian court in a case brought by environmental organizations.
One of the fields, Breidablikk, had been in operation since October 2023. That field is operated by oil company Equinor. It is estimated that there are approximately 200 million barrels of oil in the field. The other fields were to be put into use in 2025 and 2027. It contains an estimated 675 million barrels of oil.
According to the judge, the impact on the environment of oil extraction in the three fields was not properly assessed when issuing the licenses. The judge requires assessment to be done again. Until a final and correct decision has been made, oil extraction in the field that has already been opened must stop at the end of the year.
The Norwegian branch of Greanpeace and the Norwegian environmental organization Natur og Ungdom (Nature and Youth) had filed the lawsuit because, according to them, the impact on the environment had not been properly assessed. “We are happy that the oil and gas will remain untouched in the ground, instead of further exacerbating climate disasters,” the leader of Natur og Ungdom said after the ruling.
Norwegian Energy Minister Terje Aasland said he disagreed with the judge’s decision. The Norwegian government is considering appealing against the decision.
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Noren keuren voor miljarden euro’s aan nieuwe olie- en gasprojecten goed
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