In spite of the critique environmental activists applied against the Norwegian government stating that it, ignoring the climate crisis, made use of geopolitical controversies like the military conflicts in Ukraine and Iran as a reason to keep drilling for fossil fuels, Norway restarted three of its old gas fields, those in Аlbuѕkјеll, Vеѕt Еkоfіѕk and Тоmmеlіtеn Gаmmа, (which was closed in 1998), in order to support Europe’s supply, https://www.france24.com announced on Friday, May 8, 2026.
According to https://www.bloomberg.com/, the EUR 1,8 billion project, which would include 11 new boreholes and four underwater installations as well, was planned to secure approximately 20 billion cubic meters gas until 2048, while the first gas delivery could be expected at the end of 2028. Aside from the reopening the three old gas fields, the Norwegian government will open 70 new offshore locations for oil and gas exploration with the goal to secure job places, revenues and stable supplies for Europe in times of energy insecurity. In this way, Norway applies a wise suggestion of God in the Bible: “ Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might…” (Ecclesiastes 9:10, first part).
Written by Margarit Zhekov
The gas field Ekofisk; a photo by www.conocophillips.no, the company which leads the consortium planning the old gas fields’ reopening in Norway.
