Norway picks wind power sceptic as oil minister amid Arctic drilling debate - Reuters
▻https://www.reuters.com/article/us-norway-government-oilminister-listhau-idUSKBN1YM1G1
FILE PHOTO: Sylvi Listhaug sits at the desk after she was introduced as the new Senior and Public Health Minister, in Oslo, Norway May 3, 2019.
NTB scanpix/Stian Lysberg Solum via REUTERS
Norway made an outspoken right-wing lawmaker who once called wind turbines “white monsters” its oil and energy minister on Wednesday, as the government debates updating rules for petroleum industry activity in its Arctic waters.
As head of the oil and energy ministry, Sylvi Listhaug will be in charge of managing Norway’s majority stake in oil firm Equinor, granting licenses to wind farms and deciding where oil companies can drill.
Norway’s ruling four-party coalition faces a fierce debate over how far north drilling should be allowed. The Liberals, who control the environment ministry, want to restrict drilling, something which Listhaug’s right wing Progress Party opposes.
The government must approve new rules before calling another round of exploration license awards in these frontier areas before an election in 2021.
“The oil and gas industry is not a problem. It is part of the solution to make the world greener,” Listhaug told reporters on her arrival at the oil and energy ministry.
