The blocks in the Nordland 6 and More areas off the Lofoten islands had previously been ruled off-limits for petroleum activity under an agreement with alliance parties that barred an impact assessment study in the region in the present parliamentary period expiring in October 2017.
However, these tracts were included in areas open for nomination when the government launched the 24th round last week, raising eyebrows among oil companies and provoking a backlash from politicians and environmentalists alike.
After
