OSLO (Reuters) - Norway's oil ministry kept a record number of blocks proposed for oil and gas exploration in the Barents Sea in its final offer for the 24th licensing round on Wednesday, brushing off concerns about drilling impact on Arctic environment.
The ministry proposed 102 blocks in total, including 93 blocks in the Barents Sea and 9 blocks in the Norwegian Sea, despite calls from the country's Environment Agency to take about 20 blocks near the Bear Island off the list.
The deadline to apply for acreage is November 30, and the plan is to announce awards during the first half of 2018, the ministry said.