Authorities plan an investigation in the fall that could lead to a temporary ban on data centers for mining.
The goal is to free up capacity and infrastructure for more priority needs.
The law allows for a ban as part of energy consumption and land use regulation.
The Norwegian government has announced its intention to conduct an investigation in the fall of 2025, which could result in a temporary ban on the activities of data centers engaged in cryptocurrency mining. The main goal is to 'free up electricity, network capacity, and land for other purposes,' according to the official notice.
Authorities refer to the provisions of the 'Planning and Construction Act' which allows for the redistribution of energy resources based on public priorities. According to officials, it is still unclear how significant the mining issue might become in the future. However, new registration requirements for data centers will provide more data on resource consumption by miners, government representatives believe.
Like other European countries, Norway is facing rising electricity prices amid an energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine and sanctions against Russia. In addition, local residents have previously called for the closure of mining farms due to noise and infrastructure overload.
Norway may follow the example of several countries that have already restricted or banned mining. For example, a complete ban was imposed in China, prompting the migration of mining companies to the US, particularly Texas.
Despite concerns from lawmakers in the US about high energy consumption, mining remains legal in most states. This makes the country the largest participant in the global Bitcoin hash rate. Norway, on the other hand, is considering regulation in the coming months.
