The government proposes to increase the allocation for resource and environmental mapping of seabed minerals
Press release | Date: 07/10/2024 | Ministry of Energy
The government will facilitate responsible, sustainable and profitable seabed mineral activity on the Norwegian continental shelf. We need more knowledge about the mineral resources, the environmental conditions in the Norwegian deep-sea areas, and about regional and local currents in these areas. The government proposes to allocate 150 million NOK in 2025 for the management of seabed minerals, including resource and environmental mapping.
‘The government will manage Norwegian seabed minerals in a knowledge-based, step-by-step and sustainable manner. Together with private exploration activities, which we facilitate through the ongoing licensing round, increased government efforts in knowledge acquisition and research and development will strengthen the knowledge base for the management of seabed minerals. We propose to increase our investment in 2025 to facilitate efficient and step-by-step exploration from the industry and to strengthen our knowledge base’, said Terje Aasland, Minister of Energy.
Norway has a long tradition of knowledge-based, integrated, and responsible resource management in marine areas. This will also form the basis for the management of seabed mineral resources on the Norwegian continental shelf.
Earlier this year, an area in the Norwegian Sea and the Greenland Sea was opened for mineral activities. The government believes that more knowledge about resources and environmental conditions in the deep-sea is needed before permission is granted to extract seabed minerals in these areas.
The proposed allocation to the Norwegian Offshore Directorate will be used to collect multi-beam sonar data, seismic data, sensor data obtained with autonomous underwater vehicles and sampling with remotely controlled underwater vehicles amongst other things.
Environmental data will also be collected in the opening area in connection with the resource mapping expeditions. This will happen in collaboration with relevant academic institutions, including the universities of Bergen and Tromsø. The Norwegian Institute of Marine Research will also be given a task to strengthen knowledge about ocean currents. Additionally, the Mareano program maps environmental conditions in the areas that are relevant for mineral activities.
Background
The government presented a proposal for opening an area and a management strategy for seabed minerals activities in June 2023 (Report to the Storting (White Paper) no. 25 (2022-2023). A large majority in the Norwegian Parliament endorsed the government’s proposal to open an area on the Norwegian continental shelf for seabed mineral activities and the main lines of the management strategy. Based on this, the King in Council decided to formally open an area in the Norwegian Sea and the Greenland Sea for mineral activities on 12th of April this year.
In June 2024, the Ministry submitted a proposal for the announcement of the first licencing round for seabed minerals for public consultation, with a deadline of 26th of September. The ministry is now reviewing the consultation responses and will then announce the licensing round.