SE Barents opening on Norway radar

Barents push: Petroleum & Energy Minister Ola Borten Moe

MARIUS FISKUM

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By Steve Marshall and news wires

 09 January 2013 11:39 GMT

Norway’s oil minister has confirmed that a bill will be presented to the country’s parliament this spring for the opening of two frontier areas for oil and gas exploration, according to a report.

Petroleum & Energy Minister Ola Borten Moe has previously stated that he was looking to launch the long-awaited opening process for the south-east Barents Sea and the area off Jan Mayen island in the earlier part of 2013.

"A bill is expected to be presented to Parliament before Easter so that it can be adopted within this parliamentary session," he told a business conference on Wednesday, according to Reuters.

A vote on the draft legislation is set to go smoothly, as opening of these areas is not considered a contentious issue, so it…

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