The Norwegian Ministry of Energy has granted 57 new production licenses to 19 companies as part of the Awards in Predefined Areas (APA) 2025 licensing round for the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
Of these licenses, 31 are in the North Sea, 21 in the Norwegian Sea, and five in the Barents Sea.
Norway's Minister of Energy, Terje Aasland, stated, "Norway is Europe's most important energy supplier, but in a few years production will begin to decline. Therefore, we need new projects that can slow the decline and deliver as much production as possible."
"Today, we are offering 57 new production licences to 19 companies," Aasland continued. "This is a significant contribution to ensuring continued activity in the oil and gas industry. That activity is important for jobs, value creation and Europe's energy security."
The APA scheme is an annual exploration initiative that encourages resource extraction within designated areas on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. Each license includes an obligatory work program to ensure development or relinquishment of land back to the state.
Thirteen companies have been granted operatorships among the offered licenses.
Kalmar Ildstad, director of licence and area management at the Norwegian Offshore Directorate, said, "This year's awards show that the companies still see the potential for profitable exploration in mature areas. Resources proven near established installations will be crucial to ensure high value creation and effective utilisation of infrastructure moving forward."
"It is also encouraging that several companies have submitted applications to conduct new assessments of discoveries with tight reservoirs, where production has so far been deemed unlikely," Ildstad added.
The APA licensing rounds began in 2003 to facilitate resource discovery in mature areas before existing infrastructure is decommissioned. The rounds occur annually within predefined zones for consistency and predictability.
Public consultations preceded the announcement of APA 2025, with a deadline for applications set for 2 September 2025. Twenty companies submitted their interest by that time.
Companies awarded licenses include Aker BP, Equinor Energy, DNO Norge, and Harbour Energy Norge.
Equinor has been awarded 35 new production licenses, with access to sites in the North Sea, Norwegian Sea, and Barents Sea. The breakdown includes 21 in the North Sea, ten in the Norwegian Sea, and four in the Barents Sea. Equinor is designated as the operator for 17 of these licenses.
Equinor plans to drill 20–30 exploration wells annually. The company intends for 80% of its exploration efforts to focus on areas near existing infrastructure, while the remaining 20% will explore new concepts and lesser-known regions.
Aker BP has been offered ownership interests in 22 exploration licenses in the 2025 APA round and will assume operatorship in 12 of these licenses. The company's newly acquired portfolio spans the North Sea, Norwegian Sea, and Barents Sea.
The associated work programs for Aker BP include commitments for two exploration wells and extensive seismic data acquisition to rapidly evaluate resource potential.