Norway is set to ask the European competition authorities whether it can provide state support to energy firm Statoil in a bid to bring oil and gas to the shore from its Johan Castberg field in the Arctic.
The country’s oil minister, Tord Lien, said bringing it to shore would provide more benefits.
Statoil had initially planned to pipe the oil to an onshore loading terminal, but deemed it too expensive and said pumping it onto tankers at sea might be a more viable option.
He said:”Bringing it to the shore ensures the best resource management and the greatest benefits to the Finnmark county, so that the Norwegian people get the most out of it.
“We must look at what manoeuvring room we have to bring the oil and gas to the shore.”
The onshore terminal could create employment in an area with relatively low employment and also create capacity which could be utilised by future finds in the Barent Sea.
Statoil has joined forced with other companies to work together in the region.
The Johan Castberg project has been delayed a number over times since 2013.