SANDEFJORD, Norway, Jan 14 (Reuters) - The Norwegian
government has awarded 28 oil and gas companies a total of 69
offshore blocks to explore for petroleum in mature areas of its
continental shelf, the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate said on
Tuesday.
While Norway's output is expected to rise sharply in the
next several years as recent large discoveries come on stream,
authorities are keen to extend the lifespan of the oil and gas
industry for decades to come.
(Reporting by Nerijus Adomaitis, editing by Terje Solsvik and
Gwladys Fouche)
