Norway aims to expand oil exploration in Arctic Seven oil firms share four drilling permits Government had offered nine areas for drilling Fewer firms applied amid poor exploration results Activists criticise Norway’s exploration OSLO, June 23 (Reuters) – Norway has awarded four exploration licences to seven oil companies, including three for the Arctic Barents Sea, but fewer oil companies applied for the permits than in previous licensing rounds. The awards were part of Norway’s so-called numbered licensing rounds that cover previously unexplored frontier areas of the country’s continental shelf, expanding the geographical reach of its oil and gas industry. read more “This is important for employment and value creation in the Norwegian oil and gas industry,” Minister of Petroleum and Energy Tina Bru said in […]