in , , ,

Exit from oil production: Denmark cancels new oil and gas permits

The Danish Parliament announced in December 2020 that it would cancel all future rounds of approval for new exploration and production permits for oil and gas in the Danish part of the North Sea and that existing production would cease by 2050 - as an important oil producing country in the EU. The announcement by Denmark is a landmark decision for the necessary phase-out from fossil fuels. In addition, the political agreement provides for money to ensure a just transition for affected workers, Greenpeace International announced.

Helene Hagel, Head of Climate and Environmental Policy at Greenpeace Denmark, says: “This is a turning point. Denmark will now set an end date for oil and gas production and bid farewell to future approval rounds for oil in the North Sea so that the country can assert itself as the green frontrunner and inspire other countries to end our dependence on climate-damaging fossil fuels. This is a great victory for the climate movement and all of the people who have been pushing for it for many years. "

“As a major oil producer in the EU and one of the richest countries in the world, Denmark has a moral obligation to end the search for new oil in order to send a clear signal that the world can and must act to comply with the Paris Agreement and to alleviate the climate crisis. Now the government and the political parties must take the next step and plan to phase out the existing oil production in the Danish part of the North Sea by 2040. "

Background - oil production in the Danish North Sea

  • Denmark has allowed hydrocarbon exploration for more than 80 years and oil (and later gas) has been produced in Danish offshore waters in the North Sea since 1972, when the first commercial discovery was made.
  • There are 55 platforms on 20 oil and gas fields on the Danish continental shelf in the North Sea. The French oil major Total is responsible for production in 15 of these fields, while INEOS, based in Great Britain, operates in three of them, American Hess and German Wintershall in one each.
  • In 2019 Denmark produced 103.000 barrels of oil per day. This makes Denmark the second largest producer in the EU after Great Britain. Denmark is likely to take first place after Brexit. In the same year, Denmark produced a total of 3,2 billion cubic meters of fossil gas, according to BP.
  • Danish oil and gas production is expected to increase in the coming years before peaking in 2028 and 2026, and will decrease thereafter.

Which
Photos: Greenpeace

Written by Option

Option is an idealistic, fully independent and global social media platform on sustainability and civil society, founded in 2014 by Helmut Melzer. Together we show positive alternatives in all areas and support meaningful innovations and forward-looking ideas - constructive-critical, optimistic, down to earth. The option community is dedicated exclusively to relevant news and documents the significant progress made by our society.

Leave a Comment