Oil exploration outside Lofoten, Vesterålen and Senja in Northern Norway has once again reached the headlines of Norwegian press. A new report on the oil and gas prospects of this area is presented this week. In connection with this county governor Odd Eriksen of Nordland County in North-Norway says to NRK.no that the Norwegian Labour Party must not end up in a situation where the socialist party can stand in the way for a possible oil exploration of the Lofoten and Vesterålen areas.
– All documentation on this area which have been presented show that we have to proceed with this work, and we expect that the Government decides to do the consequence analysis which will open for oil exploration, says Eriksen to NRK Troms og Finnmark.
The Labaour party and the Socialist party has together with the Center party formed a coalition government in Norway. However, both the Socialist party and the Centre party give no opening for oil and gas exploration outside Lofoten and Vesterålen. The Labour party is awaiting the management plan before they decide on the future of this area.
Further north in Norway Eriksen’s colleague, County Governor Pia Svendsgaard of Troms Count, agrees with Eriksens stand.
– We cannot sit in the northernmost parts of Norway and see all business development be ripped apart, because a few groups demand preservation, says Svendsgaard.
According to Eriksen, opionons polls show that most people in northern Norway welcomes a consequence analysis on oil exploration in this area.
