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Norway's OKEA submits $570 mln Bestla oil and gas plan

Norwegian oil and gas firm OKEA has sent a 6.3 billion Norwegian crowns ($ 571 million) strategy to develop its Bestla oil and gas discovery in the North Sea, the nation's energy ministry said on Tuesday.

The discovery, previously called Brasse, is estimated to hold 24 million barrels of oil equivalent in recoverable reserves, which will be produced with a subsea installation linked to the Brage field platform.

Production is expected to start in the very first half of 2027, with gross output seen peaking at 26,000 barrels of oil equivalent each day (boed), OKEA said.

Norway, Western Europe's largest oil and gas manufacturer, wants oil firms to continue developing new petroleum resources on its continental rack, which critics say contradicts its worldwide promise to cut carbon dioxide emissions.

Norway's Minister of Energy Terje Aasland said the world will require oil and gas for several years to come and therefore it was necessary for companies to continue establishing new projects.

I hope I will get more plans for development this year, since the Norwegian continental shelf is still appealing and there are good projects remaining, Aasland told .

Both state-controlled Equinor and independent Aker BP have promised more tasks to come, although the timing of brand-new strategies was not yet clear, the minister added.

Bestla will extend the business practicality of the Brage facilities, allowing to go out more oil and gas from Brage, which has remained in production since 1993, OKEA's partner DNO stated on April 8.

DNO and OKEA each hold a 39.28% stake in Bestla. Other partners are Lime Petroleum with 17% and M Vest Energy with 4.42%.