Norway's Arctic drilling push and European gas exports

Key developments

1. Aug 24, 2026

   Norway confirms it will continue developing Barents Sea oil and gas despite the EU's Arctic drilling moratorium, aiming to keep production near current levels through 2035.

   7 sources on this →
2. Aug 24, 2026

   Equinor and Uniper sign a 15-year deal to supply more than 30 terawatt-hours of natural gas annually to Germany from 2027 to 2041, bolstering Norway's role as a key European energy supplier.

   7 sources on this →
3. Aug 25, 2026

   Norway's government appeals to the Supreme Court to overturn rulings that invalidated permits for the Breidablikk, Tyrving and Yggdrasil oilfields, citing updated emissions assessments.

   6 sources on this →

Coverage across the spectrum

Stories in this storyline

World

Norway Appeals Supreme Court on Oilfield Permits

Norway's government has asked the Supreme Court to overturn lower-court rulings that invalidated development permits for the Breidablikk, Tyrving, and Yggdrasil oilfields, arguing that updated Scope 3 emissions assessments now satisfy legal requirements. Environmental groups Greenpeace Nordic and Nature og Ungdom contend the assessments ignored climate impacts from burning oil, while production continues at two fields and Tyrving is set to start later this year as the case proceeds.

6 sources

Photo: Jan-Rune Smenes Reite / Wikimedia Commons (Pexels)

World

Norway Pushes Arctic Drilling Ahead Despite EU Opposition

Norway will continue developing Barents Sea oil and gas despite the EU's Arctic drilling moratorium, arguing that Arctic resources are crucial for maintaining European energy security and that production should stay near current levels through 2035. The government rejects the label of Europe’s “green battery” and emphasizes flexibility to export Barents outputs globally amid ongoing EU policy debates.