19 oil and gas projects on the Norwegian continental shelf get the green light – 200 billion in total investments – news Vestland

A total of 19 projects in the Norwegian oil and gas industry have received the green light from the government. The projects consist of new developments, further development of existing fields and investments in projects for increased extraction at existing fields, writes the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy in a press release. – These are projects that contribute to continued high and stable production from the Norwegian continental shelf, and to employment and value creation for the whole of society, says Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland (Ap). Oil demand fell sharply worldwide in the first half of 2020 as a result of the pandemic. There was therefore great uncertainty about future developments. In June 2020, the Storting adopted temporary changes to the Petroleum Tax Act to make it easier for the oil companies to carry out planned investments. “The implementation of these projects secures jobs, builds competence and provides a basis for further technology development which will be decisive for the development in other industries such as carbon capture and storage, hydrogen, offshore wind, aquaculture and minerals,” says Aasland. Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland believes the investments will secure jobs. Photo: Josef Benoni Ness Tveit Save the Children: – Ignoring children’s future Save the Children reacts strongly to the government giving the green light to several oil and gas projects in Norway. – We see once again that the government ignores considerations for children’s future and a livable environment. With today’s approval of a number of new oil fields, the government has closed its ears to Norwegian children and young people, and is going backwards into the future, says Ida Morén Strømsø, Senior Adviser Climate and Environmental Policy at Save the Children. She believes that the approval of these oil projects violates Norway’s constitutional obligation towards children. – 1/3 of the world’s children are hit hard by both poverty and the climate crisis. Climate change is one of the biggest threats to children’s rights and future. Today’s approval of new oil fields further reinforces this threat, and shows that the government is failing to protect today’s children and young people. We cannot afford to pump more oil. These projects get the green light All the projects in the North Sea that receive approval have Aker BP as project operator. These receive approval: Yggdrasil – A large area development in the central part of the North Sea. Valhall PWP and Fenris – The development involves further development of the Valhall area, where a new unmanned platform on the Fenris field will be connected to a new integrated process platform on Valhall. Symra – The Symraut building is a subsea facility that will be connected to the Ivar Aasen platform with further connection to the Edvard Grieg platform. The projects in the Norwegian Sea that receive approval: Irpa – Irpa is planned to be developed with a seabed facility that will be connected to the Aasta Hansteen platform. The project operator here is Equinor. Verdande – Verdande is a subsea development to be connected to the production and storage vessel on the Norne field (Norne FPSO) in the Norwegian Sea. Project operator is Equinor. Dvalin Nord – Dvalin Nord is to be developed with a subsea frame which will be connected to the Heidrun platform via a bottom frame on the existing Dvalin field. Project operator is Wintershall Dea. Skarv satellites – The three separate seabed developments Alve Nord, Idun Nord and Ørn are to be connected to the production ship Skarv off the coast of Helgeland. Project operator is Aker BP. Maria – The development is a further development of the Maria field, which has been in production since 2017. The project operator is Wintershall Dea. Berling – The Berling field consists of two separate discoveries in the Norwegian Sea and is planned to be developed with a subsea framework connected to the Åsgard B facility. The project operator is OMV. Source: Reggeringen.no



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