The Norwegian Offshore Directorate has approved Noran Energy as a new licensee, marking the first new entrant to Norway's offshore upstream oil and gas sector since 2021. Despite this approval, the company's background and strategic plans remain largely undisclosed, as a spokesperson declined to provide details. Public information is limited to statements on its website and official records.

Company Profile and Leadership

Noran Energy describes itself as a prequalified independent exploration and production company planning to enter the Norwegian Continental Shelf in 2026 with a focus on sustainable growth. Its head office is located in the United Arab Emirates, with a European office near Oslo. Norwegian company records list Mohammad Hajiarab as the general manager; his LinkedIn profile indicates he is the technical director and has extensive experience in Norway's oil sector since 2012, having worked for companies including BG, Premier Oil, Equinor, and Aker BP.

Rigorous Pre-Qualification Requirements

To gain approval, Noran Energy had to meet stringent pre-qualification standards set by the authorities. These requirements encompass:

• Financial capacity.
• Geotechnical and geophysical (G&G) expertise.
• Health, safety, and environment (HSE) standards.

The company was also required to outline its perspective on the principal challenges of operating on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, its employment strategy, and its in-house capabilities in G&G, reservoir management, facilities, and field development technology.

Organizational and Expertise Mandates

The Norwegian Offshore Directorate mandates that licensees possess sufficient dedicated capacity and expertise to fulfill their regulatory obligations. This necessitates an organization with a minimum of eight to nine individuals possessing technical and HSE expertise to properly analyze and oversee licence activities. Furthermore, companies are expected to possess cutting-edge expertise within relevant disciplines to contribute to value creation on the shelf.

Market Context

With this approval, Noran Energy joins the group of 23 active licensees on the Norwegian continental shelf. The previous new entrant, Longboat Energy (now Seascape Energy), was approved five years ago but is no longer active in Norway following the sale of its Norwegian portfolio to Japan's Japex.