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Norway has stated that it will continue drilling in the Arctic despite the EU's position

24 August 2026 23:28 (UTC +04:00)

Norway will continue developing oil and gas fields in the Barents Sea, despite the European Union's intention to impose a drilling moratorium in the region, Norway's Energy Minister Terje Åsland announced this in an interview with Reuters, APA reports.

"Given the current geopolitical and security situation, I believe that continued activity in the Barents Sea is in both Norwegian and European interests," he said.

The Norwegian official expressed confidence that Oslo's position is being understood in Brussels, emphasizing that the development of the Barents Sea's resources is the country's sovereign right. "We will develop these fields, and then the EU will decide whether to impose a moratorium on the purchase of this gas or oil," Åsland said.