Norway Presses EU to Drop Ban on Arctic Drilling of Oil and Gas

Norway is putting pressure on the European Union to remove a moratorium on new oil and gas drilling in the Arctic where almost two thirds of its petroleum resources lie.

Norwegian politicians, civil servants, and environmental and industry lobbyists are increasingly visiting Brussels to influence EU institutions as the bloc gears up to unveil a new Arctic policy by the end of September.

The Songa Offshore Songa Enabler rig in the Snohvit gas field in the Barents Sea off the coast of northern Norway.

Photographer: Mikael Holter/Bloomberg

Norway, which never joined the EU, is Western Europe’s largest exporter of oil and gas, with production from the Norwegian Continental Shelf meeting roughly 30% of EU and UK gas demand.

“Norway is very active and ...