# Norway’s Energy minister, Terje Aasland, says the country will continue developing its oil and gas resources in the Barents Sea regardless of the European Union’s support for a moratorium on Arctic hydrocarbon supplies. Norway has become Europe’s largest supplier of natural gas following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, meeting around 30-percent of gas demand of both the EU and Britain. The EU currently supports a ban on new drilling on environmental grounds in the Arctic, but is considering revising its policy in response to concerns about energy security.
Norway will drill in Arctic regardless of EU position