Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, relations between Russia and the West have cooled, and the sanctions have come like pearls on a string.Earlier this week there were explosions at the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines that run between Russia and Germany. The accusations are directed at Russia. The gas leaks are suspected to be sabotage. In the following days, there have been several reports of drones and possible surveillance around several of Norway’s oil and gas facilities. Equinor and several other oil and gas companies have raised the level of preparedness as a result of the situation. On Friday, it became known that the police are also increasing security around critical infrastructure. Power supply, digital infrastructure and the oil and gas sector are highlighted as some of the most important areas in Norway right now. And the security around this type of critical infrastructure is not much to brag about, says former intelligence officer Ola Kaldager. He is one of those who believe that preparedness is too poor. He himself served in the Home Guard in the 1980s and 90s and says that at that time most of the critical infrastructure was under guard and security. – How is this preparedness today? – It is quite weak. Bård Ludvig Thorheim is a parliamentary representative for the Energy and Environment Committee for the Conservative Party. He has previously worked in the intelligence service and has a background in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Like Kaldager, he believes that preparedness is too poor when it comes to critical infrastructure. Former intelligence chief Ola Kaldager believes that preparedness for critical infrastructure is too poor. Photo: Ola Helness / news – Security and preparedness are far from sufficient. We have developed the digital infrastructure on the basis that it should be as cost-saving as possible. We are now in a situation where countries such as Russia put the military strategy above the economic perspective. The National Security Authority says that they are generally concerned about the holistic approach to security in several sectors. Oil and gas If Norwegian oil and gas are affected, it could contribute to an energy crisis in Europe. Norway is today the largest supplier of energy. The consequences could be rationing of electricity and further increases in electricity prices. Digital infrastructure Norway has a network of fiber cables and power lines. Much of the critical infrastructure in Norway has been made digital and is both vulnerable and essential for other infrastructure. – This will have major consequences for the possibility of communication and power supply, and will affect all sectors as Norway has set itself up digitally, says Thorheim. For example, both the oil and gas sector and the water supply systems in Norway digitized. North sea link Great Britain is completely dependent on Norwegian gas supply. They have also been very forward in helping Ukraine. Therefore, Thorheim believes that the gas pipelines between Norway and Great Britain could be a possible sabotage target. The North Sea Link is one of several cables that are important for energy supplies to Europe right now. Andøya Space One of the reasons why a large launch base is now being built on Andøya is precisely to have a backup base in case our satellites are hit. Then new satellites can be sent out from Andøya so that some communication can be established. Thorheim believes that the Norwegian Armed Forces are now increasingly looking to space in order to be equipped to maintain communication. The Mongstad facility Mongstad is the supply base for petroleum operations in the North Sea. Here is an oil refinery, Europe’s second largest oil port facility and installations that compress and send gas out into pipelines. The facility contains the Mongstad terminal, the Mongstad refinery, Vestproess, Mongstad cogeneration plant and Technology Center Mongstad. – It is now important that Norwegian businesses show increased vigilance, map their value chains and are aware of the risks associated with these, they write in an e-mail to news. – A conflict over energy in Europe Thorheim says that if Russia is behind the blowing up of the cables in the Baltic Sea, it shows that they are using gas deliveries as a strategic weapon. – This means that they are willing to take financial losses in order to achieve military strategic goals. That drawing is something you don’t want. Thorheim agrees with Kaldager that the current situation is an energy conflict. – It is the energy infrastructure that will be a weak point for Europe through the coming winter. There is no doubt that Putin’s goal is to challenge us as much as possible on that weakness. Thorheim believes precisely that the security of supply for energy in Europe is what can destroy the unity between European countries. Storting representative Bård Ludvig Thorheim believes that the ongoing situation in Europe indicates that we should have stronger preparedness for energy in Norway. Photo: Høyre – And further support from Europe for Ukraine’s freedom struggle. The connections are obvious. Therefore, Norway also ends up at the center of this conflict, because we are the largest energy supplier to Europe now. Germany, Great Britain and many other countries are completely dependent on these supplies. Beneath the surface of the sea, there is a cable network of 8,800 kilometres. What is hidden in the depths of the sea is difficult to keep track of, Kaldager believes. – What is going on now is a conflict over energy in Europe. It will be absolutely essential to maintain it in order to continue living the way we do. Having control over all these cables is almost impossible, he says. Kaldager is convinced that the Norwegian authorities are now keeping an eye on the type of activity that takes place in areas where Norway has gas and oil connections. Believes Norwegian oil and gas can be a target for sabotage The supply of gas from Norway to Europe is important. Earlier this week, lieutenant colonel and researcher Geir Hågen Karlsen told the Norwegian Defense Academy (FHS) that Norwegian gas is a target for sabotage: – We have a major war in Europe right now. Norwegian gas supply is probably the biggest and most strategically important sabotage target in the whole of Europe right now, Karlsen told news. Bård Ludvig Thorheim also believes that the situation we are in could have enormous consequences. – An example is the troll field in the North Sea. The field is virtually unmonitored and will have major consequences also in Europe, says Thorheim. The police have now asked for assistance from the Armed Forces to guard critical infrastructure. – The police’s most important job is to keep the population safe. The security policy situation is taken very seriously, and the police are prepared to contribute to creating security as part of society’s overall preparedness, says Emergency Preparedness Director Tone Vangen in the Norwegian Police Directorate in the press release. Thorheim says he basically has faith that the government will initiate the necessary measures now. – But there is a lot of infrastructure and it is difficult to have good enough security around all the facilities. This is a wake-up call that we must have even better preparedness in the long term. The former intelligence officer also believes that the police will do their utmost to increase security, but he points out that the police’s resources are limited. – Among other things, at power stations or transformer stations where the electricity is distributed, it is demanding to have 24-hour security. It requires a completely different crew than we have today, says Kaldager. He emphasizes that both oil and gas facilities, industry and many other infrastructures depend on electricity. – If you think like a saboteur, Norway’s power grid is a natural target. There will also be a need for increased preparedness. Støre: – Close contact with neighbors On Friday, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap) held a press conference about the tense situation. Here he said that Norway has accepted contributions from Germany, France and Great Britain to increase its presence in the Norwegian sector after the Nord Stream leak. – We have no indications of direct threats to Norwegian oil and gas installations. There is a high level of security and this is further strengthened in cooperation with Norwegian companies. We have introduced a number of measures, both on the military and civilian side. In the last week, preparedness has been further strengthened, he said. Støre says he understands if people become uneasy as a result of the destruction of the gas pipelines Nord Stream 1 and 2. – There is close contact with neighbours, allies and the companies. This is a situation where it is safe to have allies, and where allies feel that it is safe to have Norway.
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– Quite weak – news Nordland
