Labour in Lofoten 'turnaround act'

Arkiv januar 1997.Sildetråler, Lødingen i LofotenScan-Foto: Ole Magnus Rapp

Concerns: the area off Lofoten is important for Norway's fishing industry

A committee vote within Norway’s ruling Labour Party in favour of carrying out an impact assessment study to open eco-sensitive areas off the Lofoten islands for oil and gas drilling has reportedly sparked opposition both from green groups and within the ranks of the coalition government.

The party’s programme committee decided by an overwhelming majority to permit a study, previously ruled out under the current parliamentary term, during the next four-year period if the present administration wins elections this autumn.

The proposal, which will now be discussed at Labour’s national conference in April, follows a recent statement by Petroleum & Energy Minister Ola Borten Moe that an opening of unopened areas of Nordland 6, Nordland 7 and Troms 2 off Lofoten, Vesteraalen and Senja should be put on hold for another four years due to fishing industry concerns.

That…

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