Equinor ASA Secures 35 New Licenses in Norway, Enhancing Future Exploration Potential
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 13 2026
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Source: Benzinga
- New License Awards: Equinor secured 35 new production licenses in Norway's latest licensing round, with 21 in the North Sea, 10 in the Norwegian Sea, and 4 in the Barents Sea, significantly enhancing the company's future exploration and production capabilities.
- Exploration Plans: The company aims to drill between 20 and 30 exploration wells annually, primarily near existing infrastructure while also testing new prospects, supporting its goal of advancing six to eight subsea developments each year through 2035.
- Resource Discoveries: In 2025, Equinor achieved 14 discoveries, half of which were directly operated by the company, representing approximately 125 million barrels of potential recoverable oil equivalent, expected to offset declines in existing fields.
- European Energy Role: As one of Europe's largest energy suppliers, Equinor stated that securing new licenses is crucial for maintaining production levels and stable deliveries, ensuring the company's sustained growth through 2035.
Analyst Views on EQNR
Wall Street analysts forecast EQNR stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for EQNR is 23.89 USD with a low forecast of 22.00 USD and a high forecast of 25.79 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
2 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 25.630
Low
22.00
Averages
23.89
High
25.79
Current: 25.630
Low
22.00
Averages
23.89
High
25.79
About EQNR
Equinor ASA, formerly Statoil ASA is a Norway-based international energy company. The Company’s purpose is to turn natural resources into energy. Equinor sells crude oil and delivers natural gas to the European market. It is also engaged in processing, refining, offshore wind and carbon capture and storage activities. Equinor ASA has five reporting segments: Exploration & Production Norway (E&P Norway), Exploration & Production International (E&P International), Exploration & Production USA (E&P USA), Marketing, Midstream & Processing (MMP) and Renewables (REN). The Company has several subsidiaries such as Equinor Nigeria Energy Company Ltd, Equinor Wind Power AS, Equinor International Netherlands BV and Equinor Brasil Energia Ltda.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
