The Socialist Left Party (SV) announced it would block the government's budget unless the first round of deep-sea mining licenses, scheduled for early 2025, was suspended. The agreement effectively halts mining activities until the end of the government's current term.

"This decision stops deep-sea mining plans for now," said Kirsti Bergstø, leader of the SV party.

Earlier this year, Norway became the first country to approve commercial deep-sea mining after gaining parliamentary approval. While issuing licenses has been paused, the government will proceed with preparatory work, including an environmental impact assessment and regulatory planning.

"This is a postponement, not a cancellation," Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, from the Labour Party, told TV2 on Sunday.

Environmental groups hailed the move as a significant victory for ocean protection. Oslo had planned to open 280,000 sq km (108,000 sq miles) of its waters—an area larger than the UK—for mineral extraction.

"This is a historic win for ocean conservation achieved through the efforts of activists, environmentalists, scientists, and fishermen," said Haldis Tjeldflaat Helle, a Greenpeace Nordic campaigner.

Meanwhile, Norway faces legal challenges from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), which argues the government has not sufficiently assessed the environmental risks of deep-sea mining. The Norwegian Environment Agency also criticized the lack of a strong scientific and legal foundation for such activities.

Norway's plans have sparked international concerns. The European Parliament called for a moratorium on deep-sea mining in February, citing environmental risks. A coalition of 32 countries, including the UK, Germany, France, Canada, and Brazil, has also endorsed a global moratorium.

Despite this, Norway maintains that its seabed contains vast deposits of essential metals like copper and rare earth elements, which are critical for transitioning away from fossil fuels.