(Adds background, oil ministry)
OSLO, April 4 (Reuters) - Oil major Royal Dutch Shell has pulled its application from Norway's Arctic-focusedoil licensing round, the firm said on Monday, in a blow to theNordic country's ambitions to explore for oil and gas in itsnorthern offshore areas.
"The decision is part of an optimisation of Shell's globalportfolio following the acquisition of BG and a persistently lowoil price," the company's Norwegian unit said in a statement."Norway remains one of our core areas."
In December the Norwegian oil ministry said Shell was amongthe companies who had applied for drilling permissions in theso-called 23rd round, a licensing round set to move the searchfor hydrocarbons closer to the country's border with Russia.
As recently as last month, the head of Shell's business inNorway had told Reuters the firm had hoped that it could begindrilling in 2017 if it won licenses in the 23rd licensing round.
The Norwegian oil ministry was not immediately able tocomment when contacted by Reuters. (Reporting by Stine Jacobsen, editing by Gwladys Fouche)
