Christian Democratic Party reacted strongly to oil minister’s eagerness to drill for oil south of Lofoten.
Christian Democratic Party(CDP/KrF is critical to Ola Borten Moe attempts to further process the coup of the Lofoten, says Parliament Kjell Ingolf Ropstad (CDP) to Newspaper News Agency (ANB).
The reason is that oil minister Ola Borten Moe has been advocated to “proceed with the activity” in some part of the area Nordland 6 which was opened in 1994 but closed by political Stoltenberg I Government in 2001. Opened it accounts for three quarters of Nordland 6, but farther from land.
Opened part of Nordland 6 is the most vulnerable area. It was closed in 2001 because of uncertainty about the effects of oil activities on fisheries and the environment. This uncertainty is still there. Nordland 6 should be treated the same way as the unopened areas, says Christian Democrat spokesman, pointing to the other areas off Lofoten, Vesterålen and Senja.
Christian Democrat spokesman has asked the minister about which new impact for the opened parts of Nordland and received the answer that it is not necessary. In these areas it is “factually and legally” possible to have petroleum in the next parliamentary term, said the response from the oil and energy minister.
The response from Ola Borten Moe clarifies that he and the government thinks it can start drilling in Nordland 6 to fall. From experience we know that Q-minister seems to have planned this. Therefore, it may seem like the government right now, half a year before the election, has entered into a compromise on Lofoten, says Ropstad.
– It is bold of the Center to go to war against the fishermen of the most sensitive and controversial area off Lofoten. Knowledge gathering shows that the largest petroleum resources are expected to be in Nordland 6, so this is a clear priority ahead of fish oil, fossil front renewable resources, says Christian Democrat political environment spokesman.
He points out that there are over 6,500 jobs in the fishing and tourism industry in Lofoten, Vesterålen and Senja.
– On the other hand, the maximum oil industry could provide 1,100 jobs, says Kjell Ingolf Ropstad. (ANB)
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