Faroese ministry hopes Rosebank oil exploration goes ahead

The Faroese Ministry of Industry hopes oil exploration at Rosebank, near the Faroese boundary, will begin as soon as possible, Kringvarp Føroya reported. The ministry says the project could also be important for future oil exploration in the Faroe Islands.

British authorities have held a consultation on possible exploration at Rosebank. Neither the Ministry of Industry nor the Faroese geological authority Jarðfeingi submitted a response.

However, Tvøroyri Municipality and Tvøroyri Port sent a response on Monday recommending that the exploration be approved, according to Portalurin. They said oil operations east of the Faroe Islands could use services in places including Tvøroyri, the nearest port to the oil fields in the Atlantic Margin.

Jacob Vestergaard, the minister for industry, said no response had been submitted by his ministry. He said the Faroese position was that exploration at Rosebank should begin as soon as possible.

The head of Jarðfeingi, Niels Christian Nolsøe, said the agency was in regular contact with British authorities, who knew the Faroese position.