Applications for the North Sea Awards 2002 on the Norwegian Continental Shelf

- Through theNorth SeaAwards 2002 the Government has given the industry access to 109 blocks. In this way we want to make possible the realisation of the value in small and medium sized fields in mature parts of the continental shelf. These resources are important in order to achieve the Government's long-term scenario for petroleum production on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, says Einar Steensnæs, Minister of Petroleum and Energy.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy has revived applications from 9 oil companies for the North Sea Awards 2002 on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The companies have applied as individual companies and as parts of groups.

The companies that have submitted applications are: Agip, DNO, DONG, EssoMobil, Norsk Hydro, OER Oil, Paladin, RWE-DEA and Statoil.

The aim is to award new production licenses in the North Sea Awards 2002 in the first half of 2003.

Importance will be attached to secure a balance between the interests of the environment, the fisheries, the fish farming industry and the petroleum activity, within the framework of sustainable development. Special focus will be given to finding solutions that secures co-existence between the petroleum activity and the fisheries in the important sandeel areas in south of the North Sea.