Applications
The Norwegian Ministry of Energy has received applications from 21 companies showing interest in new exploration areas on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) as part of this year’s Awards in Predefined Areas (APA) licensing round.
The APA 2026 round was announced on 5 May, with applications closing on 1 September.
The APA area comprises most of the continental shelf areas opened and made available by the Norwegian parliament for the award of new production licences.
This year, the predefined area has been expanded by a total of 70 blocks, or parts of blocks, in the North Sea, the Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea.
The Norwegian Offshore Directorate (NOD) is now evaluating the applications, focusing on geological understanding and exploration plans for the areas.
When production licences are awarded, emphasis is also placed on the companies’ technical expertise, experience and financial strength.
The aim is to award the new production licences at the beginning of 2027.
