Norway opens 70 new offshore blocks for oil and gas exploration

The Norwegian government has announced 70 new exploration blocks in the North Sea, Norwegian Sea, and Barents Sea as part of this year’s licensing round, expanding the country’s search for oil and gas resources.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Energy Minister Terje Aasland unveiled the expansion during an industry meeting in Stavanger, emphasizing Norway’s role as an energy supplier to Europe and the economic value of the petroleum sector, reports Dagbladet.

“The government is announcing new exploration areas in the predefined areas (TFO) to further develop the petroleum sector so it can continue creating significant value for society, supporting jobs nationwide, securing our welfare, and contributing to Europe’s energy security,” Støre said in a statement.

The 70 new blocks—38 in the Barents Sea, 10 in the Norwegian Sea, and 22 in the North Sea—mark an expansion of the TFO scheme, which covers the most well-known exploration zones on the Norwegian continental shelf. Last year’s licensing round, the largest in history, opened 75 blocks.

Energy Minister Aasland stressed the importance of annual licensing rounds and predictable conditions for achieving Norway’s petroleum policy goals. He urged the industry to seek “new, larger opportunities” in these areas alongside exploration near existing infrastructure.

Companies have until September 1 to submit applications, with new production licenses expected to be awarded in early 2027. The government confirmed it will not proceed with a separate 26th licensing round this year, as previously planned areas have been included in the current TFO expansion.