Norway halts deep-sea mining plans until 2029 in major environmental policy reversal

Norway has dramatically reversed course on deep-sea mining, imposing a four-year moratorium that blocks the controversial industry from launching in its waters until at least 2029. The decision marks a significant victory for environmental advocates who have warned about the severe ecological risks of harvesting minerals from the ocean floor.

The policy U-turn came after intense political negotiations on December 3, when Norway’s five governing political parties agreed to cancel the first round of deep-sea mineral licensing that had been scheduled for 2026. Parliament officially voted to pause the mining efforts two days later, overturning previous plans to move forward with the industry. The government also slashed public funding for state-led seabed mineral mapping programs.

Lars Haltbrekken, a Socialist Left Party member of parliament who played a crucial role in blocking the mining plans, expressed satisfaction with the outcome. “I’m happy that we managed to stop it again, and I hope that we now have stopped it for good,” he said, citing “huge environmental risks” associated with deep-sea mining operations.

However, the pause may not represent a permanent shift. Snorre Erichsen Skjevrak, a state secretary for Norway’s Ministry of Energy, emphasized that while the budget agreement creates a temporary halt, it “does not affect the regulatory framework or management strategy for seabed minerals.” He maintained that the government’s long-term policy remains unchanged, suggesting the moratorium could be a political compromise rather than a definitive end to Norway’s deep-sea mining ambitions.