# Norway Arctic oil and gas development > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/norway-arctic-oil-and-gas-development > Updated: 2026-09-07T23:39:12.000Z. Sources: 62. Developments: 5. Norway is proceeding with oil and gas field development in the Arctic, specifically the Barents Sea, despite pressure from the European Union’s green agenda. Energy Minister Terje Aasland has maintained that Norway will not act as Europe’s ‘green battery,’ asserting that continued activity serves both Norwegian and European interests within the current geopolitical landscape. Since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Norway has become Europe’s primary natural gas supplier, meeting approximately 30% of the continent's demand. New data from the Norwegian Offshore Directorate’s Resource Report 2026 indicates that production on the Norwegian continental shelf is expected to plateau through approximately 2027 before entering a period of decline. To mitigate this, the Norwegian government is intensifying its focus on production to ensure long-term energy security, aiming to maintain current levels until at least 2035. To support this, the government has expanded annual licensing rounds by adding 70 new exploration blocks, including significant areas in the Barents Sea. This expansion faces opposition from the EU, which advocates for a moratorium on Arctic drilling. In the private sector, Equinor, Aker BP, and Vår Energi have formed a partnership to explore 20 to 25 high-impact targets on the Norwegian Continental Shelf over the next five years. Additionally, Equinor has outlined an international strategy to increase its non-Norwegian production to 950,000 boed by 2030, focusing on high-margin assets in the United States, Brazil, and Angola. Domestic opposition is intensifying as climate activist groups, including Besteforeldrenes klimaaksjon, Naturvernforbundet, and Natur og Ungdom, call for an end to Barents Sea exploration. These groups argue that the region is warming faster than anywhere else on Earth and that protecting biological resources and fisheries should take precedence over fossil fuel development, emphasizing that the fossil fuel era is ending. ## Claims - Norway intends to maintain current oil and gas production levels until at least 2035. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Equinor, Aker BP, and Vår Energi have formed a partnership to explore 20 to 25 targets on the Norwegian Continental Shelf over the next 4 to 5 years. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Norway supplies roughly 30% of the gas consumed by the European Union and the United Kingdom. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Equinor expects its international portfolio to generate approximately $20 billion in free cash flow between 2026 and 2030. (single source) - The Norwegian government added 70 blocks to the APA 2026 licensing round, including 38 in the Barents Sea. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-07: Norway and Denmark face debates over fossil fuels and offshore wind Climate activists in Norway are calling for a halt to Barents Sea oil exploration, while Denmark pushes for massive offshore wind expansion in the North Sea to ensure energy security. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/norway-and-denmark-face-debates-over-fossil-fuels-and-offshore-wind ### 2026-08-28: Norway to continue Barents Sea drilling for energy security Norway plans to continue oil and gas drilling in the Barents Sea to support European energy security, despite EU environmental policies regarding Arctic hydrocarbon supplies. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/norway-to-continue-barents-sea-drilling-for-energy-security ### 2026-08-26: Norwegian oil and gas production faces potential decline through 2050 Norway’s oil and gas production faces a steep potential decline toward 2050, with output potentially dropping to near zero without increased exploration and investment on the Norwegian continental shelf. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/norwegian-oil-and-gas-production-faces-potential-decline-through-2050 ### 2026-08-26: Norway intensifies oil and gas exploration to secure European energy supply Norway is prioritizing oil and gas production through 2035, expanding Arctic exploration and forming industry partnerships to secure energy supplies for Europe despite EU environmental opposition. 12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/norway-to-expand-arctic-oil-and-gas-development ### 2026-08-24: Norway to continue Arctic oil and gas drilling despite EU moratorium Norway will continue Arctic oil and gas drilling in the Barents Sea despite EU opposition, citing the need to maintain energy security and production levels through at least 2035. 45 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/norway-to-continue-arctic-oil-and-gas-drilling-despite-eu-stance --- Cite as: Norway Arctic oil and gas development. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/norway-arctic-oil-and-gas-development