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Norway

Legislation

  • Minerals Act 2009
  • Regulations to the Minerals Act 2010
  • Planning and Building Act 2008
  • Regulations on Impact Assessment 2017

Regulatory Risk Rating

Substantial
Regulatory Risk

Regulatory Corruption Risk

Moderate
Regulatory Corruption Risk

Corruption Exposure Risk

Very Low
Corruption Exposure Risk
Regulatory Risk Rating Factors Risk Level
First Come / First Serve Subscribe
Application Criteria Subscribe
Duration Subscribe
Right to Renew Subscribe
Competing Licences Subscribe
Mineral Coverage Subscribe
Right to Mine Subscribe
Criteria for Mining Rights Subscribe
Tenure Subscribe
Surface Access Subscribe
Government Take Subscribe
Transfer Rights Subscribe
Change of Control Subscribe
EIA Process Subscribe
Power to Revoke Subscribe
Age of Legislation Subscribe
Other Factors Subscribe

As with other Nordic countries, the Norwegian framework attempts to balance the often competing interests of a range of parties, with heightened risk challenges anticipated for projects which take place in Finnmark – where the country’s Sami population are largely based. The law includes relatively high levels of government discretion which must be traversed when obtaining permits and approvals for operations and navigating Norway’s planning regime will be a complex challenge for project proponents. Sitting almost in the dead centre of the legal risk scale – Norway’s framework can neither be seen to be overly conducive to economic success nor overly detrimental. If one can successfully navigate the few critical risk aspects of the permitting regime, one should be relatively confident of project success.

Contents

Legislation

  • Minerals Act 2009
  • Regulations to the Minerals Act 2010
  • Planning and Building Act 2008
  • Regulations on Impact Assessment 2017

Regulatory Risk Rating

Substantial
Regulatory Risk

Regulatory Corruption Risk

Moderate
Regulatory Corruption Risk

Corruption Exposure Risk

Very Low
Corruption Exposure Risk

Overview

In terms of extractives, Norway is traditionally recognised for its oil and gas sectors, however the country also has considerable mineral wealth – with iron, nickel, molybdenum, rare earths, industrial minerals, natural stones, building raw materials and energy minerals available.  The mining industry is relatively young in comparison to the coal and oil and gas sectors, with the country’s untapped mineral potential thought to be considerable. That being said, Norway did have an active copper industry in the past. Though Norway was partly responsible for the watering down of global climate change commitments at the 2021 COP26, the country is aware that it must diversify from the fossil fuel industries. As part of these efforts, Norway is increasingly at the forefront of deep sea mining efforts. Exploration has indicated that Norway’s seabed holds copper, zinc, cobalt, silver, gold, lithium and rare earth minerals.  

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