The 8th licensing round opened up for applications on 26 June 2018, and the licensing round closed on 1 February 2019. The Danish Energy Agency has received applications from the following four E&P companies for licences to exploit and extract oil and gas:
- Ardent Oil Ltd.
- Lundin Norway AS
- MOL Dania ApS
- Total E&P Danmark A/S
In addition to these companies, Nordsøfonden, the Danish State’s oil and gas company, will get a 20 % share of all future licences. Nordsøfonden is responsible for the State’s participation in most of the oil licences on Danish soil in accordance with the Subsoil Act. In the Model Licence of the 8th licensing round, Nordsøfonden is entitled to a licence share of 20 %.
The number of applications in the 8th licensing round is far from the record-high number of applications in the 7th licensing round. But the number does show that the Danish North Sea is still considered an attractive area.
The Danish Energy Agency is reviewing the applications and is expected to issue the new licences in the summer of 2019.
It is the Danish Energy Agency’s intention to hold new licensing rounds in the North Sea every second year. The 9th licensing round is therefore expected in 2020.