Parliamentary voting is underway in Norway – with the Scandinavian country’s oil and gas sector hanging in the balance.
Several parties are opposed to future exploration in the Arctic region and have emerged as potential ‘kingmakers’ in the election, which closes tonight.
The Green Party wants to end exploration immediately and phase out the industry over the next decade and a half.
The party is poised to become a key force in parliament.
The Socialist Left and the Red Party both want to end license awards and new field developments and are likely to gain standing.
The current Conservative government and Labour both back the industry but have faced criticism over the issue of climate change and the morality of pushing for more petroleum when low carbon economies is so high on the global agenda.
The Arctic Barents Sea holds the bulk of the country’s undiscovered oil and gas resources.
It is seen as critcial to maintaining production for the next 10 years.