May 6th saw Norway’s Labour-led government signal a decisive shift in its European energy strategy.
Environmentalists and the Socialist Left party have already labeled the decision “greenwashing madness.”
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced the reopening of three North Sea gas fields that have been dormant since 1998, coupled with a massive expansion of exploration rights across 70 new locations.
The move is a direct response to the global energy vacuum created by the U.S.-Israel-Iran war and the subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz, meaning the Norwegian state is now positioning itself as the indispensable guardian of European energy security.
With oil and gas prices surging, Norway’s state giant Equinor is already reaping the benefits, reporting record production levels and its highest profits in years.
