Norway delays deep-sea mining activities for four years

December 03, 2025 / 2:17 PM

Sharjah24 - AFP: Norway, which became the first European nation to open parts of its waters to deep-sea mining, will delay issuing its first licenses for at least four years following a political agreement reached on Wednesday. The Labour government postponed the timeline to secure the backing of smaller parliamentary parties needed to pass the state budget.

No tenders before 2029

Under the agreement, the government committed “not to launch the first tenders for deep-sea mining during the current legislative term,” which ends in 2029. The deal received support from two key parties early Wednesday, ensuring the majority needed for the upcoming budget vote.

Environmental groups celebrate decision

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF), a leading opponent of deep-sea mining, welcomed the move as “a massive win for nature.”

“This decision represents a significant shift in Norway’s position and is a historic victory for nature, science, and public pressure,” the organisation said.

Concerns over environmental impact

Deep-sea mining aims to extract resources such as nickel, cobalt and copper from untouched seabeds—materials used in batteries, renewable energy systems and military technology. Environmental groups including WWF and Greenpeace argue the practice threatens fragile marine ecosystems.

Political pressure forces delay

Norway’s parliament approved deep-sea mining exploration in its territorial waters in 2024, with the government originally planning to issue licenses in 2025. However, smaller coalition parties resisted the plan.

To secure approval for the 2026 state budget, expected to be voted on this Friday, the Labour government agreed to halt mining tenders. Early Wednesday, the last two holdout parties confirmed their support for the budget, which includes the suspension of deep-sea mining activities.