Timeline: Seabed Minerals

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.

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• The government proposes to increase the allocation for resource and environmental mapping of seabed minerals

The Ministry of Energy has presented a proposal for the announcement of the first licensing round for seabed minerals on the Norwegian continental shelf for public consultation. The proposal sets out the areas where the companies will be able to apply for exploitation licenses, so that exploration and gathering knowledge about whether there is a basis for sustainable mineral exploitation on the Norwegian shelf can begin.

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• Public consultation of the first licensing round for seabed minerals

The King in Council has today formally decided to open an area in the Norwegian Sea and the Greenland Sea for mineral activities.

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• Opening of an area on the Norwegian continental shelf for mineral activities

On 9 January, the Norwegian parliament (Storting) considered the government's proposal for opening an area for mineral activities on the Norwegian continental shelf. With the parliament’s decision, the basis is now laid for a gradual and responsible development of seabed minerals, based on a precautionary approach.

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• Norway gives green light for seabed minerals

The government proposes to open parts of the Norwegian continental shelf for commercial seabed mineral activities. In addition, the government presents a strategy demonstrating how Norway aims to be a global leader in a fact- and knowledge-based management of seabed mineral resources. Environmental considerations will be safeguarded throughout the value chain, and extraction will only be permitted if the industry can demonstrate sustainability and responsible practices.

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• The Støre government is facilitating a new ocean industry - seabed mineral activities

The impact assessment for mineral activities on the Norwegian continental shelf was submitted for consultation, with the deadline for responses set for January 27, 2023.

• Link to the document (in Norwegian)

The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy adopted a program for the impact assessment of seabed minerals activities, based on 53 consultation responses.

• Link to the document (in Norwegian)

The Solberg government submitted a program proposal for the impact assessment for mineral activities on the Norwegian continental shelf for public consultation. The program was adopted on September 10, 2021, based on 53 received consultation responses.

• Link to the document (in Norwegian)

The Solberg government started a process to open parts of the Norwegian continental shelf for mineral activities.

• Link to the document (in Norwegian)

The Seabed Minerals Act came into force, after having been adopted by the Norwegian parliament (Storting) 22 March.

• Read more: The Seabed Mineral Act comes into force (in Norwegian)

The Solberg government presented a proposal for a new law on mineral activities on the continental shelf (The Seabed Minerals Act).

• Link to the document (in Norwegian)

The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy initiated a public consultation on a proposal for a new law on mineral activities on the continental shelf.
Read more here.