Government efforts to entice major global oil and gas producers to New Zealand has borne fruit, with Norway's state-owned Statoil and Australian heavyweight Woodside Petroleum winning exploration licences in the latest permit awards, announced at Parliament today.
A total of 10 exploration licences have been granted, five offshore and fiveonshore, the same number as last year and sees intensified exploration in the Great South Basin, where two new licences have been awarded.
Statoil will undertake seismic surveys in the virtually unexplored Reinga Basin, offshore to the north and west coast of the North Island and is the first time the Nordic company, already operating in 35 countries and some 70 deep-water wells.
Woodside is partnering with local explorer and producer New Zealand Oil & Gas to explore an offshore licence area in the Great South Basin, while NZOG has taken further GSB territory off the coast of South Canterbury.
Whangarei MP and Minister of Energy and Resources Phil Heatley welcomed the Norwegian company and wished them well in their exploration of the Northland Coast.
"Their experience spans decades and, being a company from the environmentally pristine Norway, they will be keen to understand what our natural environment means to us," Mr Heatley said, following the announcement.
"I have every confidence they will meet and involve our Councils, local iwi and residents and will operate at the very highest standards, having full respect of our coast and our beaches."
