Oslo: Norway will cease plans for deep-sea mining, the Socialist Left (SV) party, which supports the minority centre-left government, confirmed on Sunday. This decision comes after the SV concluded negotiations over next year’s budget with the coalition.
“We are stopping plans to open mining on the sea bed,” said Kirsti Bergstoe, leader of the green leftwing SV party, during a press briefing.
Norway, known for its wealth from vast hydrocarbon reserves, had previously been a prominent player in the global race to mine the ocean floor for valuable metals, crucial for the shift away from fossil fuels. However, following significant environmental pushback, the government has now reversed its position.
“This is a crucial win in the fight against deep-sea mining. It should be the nail in the coffin for the destructive industry,” said Frode Pleym, head of Greenpeace Norway, in a statement to Reuters.
Plans had been in motion to open vast areas of Norway’s Arctic region for the first-ever seabed licensing round, with exploration permits set to be awarded in 2025. This would have opened the door to large-scale deep-sea mining despite fierce opposition from environmental groups both within Norway and internationally.
With the new agreement between the government and SV, this licensing round will not move forward.
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Preliminary reports from 2023 had indicated that Norway’s seabed holds substantial reserves of metals and minerals, including copper and rare earth elements, sparking interest in the sector.
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The decision marks a significant victory for environmentalists who have long raised concerns about the ecological impacts of deep-sea mining. It also underscores Norway’s evolving approach to balancing its environmental commitments with its economic ambitions in the context of the global transition to sustainable energy.
