Norway picks wind power sceptic as oil minister amid Arctic drilling debate

Norway's Prime Minister Erna Solberg poses with newly appointed Minister of Oil and Energy Sylvi Listhaug and Minister of Elderly and Public Health Terje Soviknes, both from Progress Party (FrP), in Oslo, Norway December 18, 2019. NTB Scanpix/Terje Bendiksby via REUTERS

OSLO (Reuters) - Norway made an outspoken right-wing lawmaker who once called wind turbines "white monsters" its oil and energy minister on Wednesday, as the government debates updating rules for petroleum industry activity in its Arctic waters.

As head of the oil and energy ministry, Sylvi Listhaug will be in charge of managing Norway's majority stake in oil firm Equinor, granting licences to wind farms and deciding where oil companies can drill.