Norway, Europe's biggest supplier of natural gas after Russia, is seeking a signal from the European Union regarding the future role of its gas within the European energy mix.

Cognizant of the potentially gigantic reservoirs of gas in the Barents Sea and of the huge investments it would require to bring this commodity to market, Norway is looking for a clear statement next week stating that the fuel can play an important role in reducing emissions and to focus on the need for new infrastructure, Norwegian Petroleum and Energy Minister Tord Lien said Friday.

Further: "A considerable share of our untapped gas resources are located in the Barents Sea. Additional gas export capacity from the Barents Sea will be decided during the next decade. This future expansion can either be an expansion of the LNG capacity with destination flexibility, or a pipeline connection to Europe. Such expansion demands very substantial up-front investments. Companies investing in this capacity will make their choice on a commercial basis, taking into consideration the prospects for gas in Europe."

At an EU-Norway energy conference in Brussels last week, Climate Action Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete said natural gas will remain an important part of the EU’s energy mix, calling Norway a trusted and stable partner.