Fracking, or fracturing in Norwegian, is prohibited in most European countries. The extraction method is controversial because it can cause soil and groundwater contamination, and was most recently banned in the UK due to environmental concerns. But the method is not banned in America. Equinor operates 72 fracking facilities in the United States, and some facilities in Patagonia, Argentina. Last autumn, the industry committee at the Storting visited Argentina to, among other things, look at Equinor’s operations in the country. Alfred Bjørlo (V) was recently in Argentina to look at Equinor’s fracking operations in the country, together with the industry committee at the Storting. Photo: Ned Alley – We met with a number of environmental organizations over there who confirmed what we already know. This form of extraction of gas and oil must stop, says Anders Bjørlo, Venstre’s man on the committee. news has previously discussed climate and environmental problems related to this way of extracting oil and gas. The four parties Venstre, MDG, SV and Rødt are now asking that Equinor withdraw completely from fracking in both Argentina and the USA. Believing in the same fate as tar sands MDG’s Rasmus Hansson believes it will go the same way with Equinor’s fracking, as with tar sands extraction in Canada. Demonstration outside Equinor’s general meeting in 2014. Photo: news – At the time we in MDG, together with several other parties, demanded to get them out. The Labor Party, the Conservative Party and the Center Party refused. Then a few years passed, and everyone turned around. Equinor pulled out of tar sands. The same is going to happen now. Rasmus Hansson, (MDG), member of the Business Committee at the Storting. Photo: Privat Equinor operated with tar sands in the period 2007 to 2016. The company itself explained the withdrawal with a desire to focus instead on extracting oil outside Newfoundland. Liberal Anders Bjørlo believes it is time for Equinor’s operations abroad to be discussed here at home: – We see a green and nice and great Equinor here at home, which talks about sustainability and zero emissions. Then we see an old-fashioned and a regular Equinor out. Equinor: – Shale gas important for the energy mix Equinor sits on huge gas reserves in the ground in the USA. According to the company, they have as much gas in the shale layers underground in the US as the entire Troll field combined. Troll is the world’s largest offshore gas field. Two kilometers below the ground here in the shale layers are gas deposits that Equinor extracts. This is one of 72 Equinor facilities in the eastern United States. Photo: Ole Reinert Omvik / news Fracking of gas now accounts for a third of all foreign operations of Equinor. Press manager Ola Morten Aanestad denies that fracking is more environmentally harmful than other fossil energy production. – Shale gas and shale oil are important in the energy mix in the world. It has had enormous significance for energy security globally. It has had a positive effect on US CO₂ emissions. Gas has replaced a lot of coal in the power sector. Ola Morten Aanestad, press manager for Equinor’s foreign operations. Photo: Trond A. Isaksen/StatoilHydro / Trond A Isaksen – This is oil and gas production that takes place with lower CO₂ emissions than almost any other place in our portfolio. – But has Europe misunderstood since they refuse this business on the continent here? – Our business in this area is mainly in the USA. There it takes place in accordance with the strict regulations set by the US authorities, Equinor replies. Trucks on their way to one of Equinor’s facilities in Ohio. They transport water and chemicals used in the fracking process. Photo: Ole Reinert Omvik / news The state will take more control On Thursday 23 February, the Storting will discuss the new ownership notice from the government. This is about how the state will manage its companies going forward. Including Equinor. Industry Minister Jan Chr. Vestre (Ap) wants to manage the companies more, and wants to make them greener. Photo: Håvard Greger Hagen / news The Minister of Business has said that he wants the state to become a more active owner. In addition, he wants to sharpen the green profile of the state company. He wants to set “clearer expectations for companies than ever before (about) sustainability, climate and nature.” Lars Haltbrekken in SV and Gisle Jørgensen in Rødt have asked the minister of industry whether, with these reinforcements on climate and the environment, he will instruct Equinor to sell out of fracking. Torgeir Knag Fylkesnes (SV) and Geir Jørgensen (Red). Both in the business committee at the Storting. Photo: Mats Rønning In the answers to both, the Minister of Industry refers to the board of Equinor. They are responsible for following up on what the state expects from the company. It is unclear how the new ownership notification with an increased environmental focus will affect Equinor’s fracking business. Liberal Anders Bjørlo will use the discussion about the state’s ownership to bring up Equinor’s fracking in the Storting: – The government has itself said that sustainability must be the focus. Zero emissions in 2050 must be the basis for all state ownership. Then the debate about Norwegian oil companies’ operations abroad in general, and fracking in particular, is absolutely necessary. Fracking involves drilling down to shale layers deep underground, blowing up the shale layer with dynamite, and injecting water, sand and chemicals. This releases the gas or oil that is in the shale, and this pushes up to the surface. Photo: Tom Bob Peru Aronsen / news – But is it right for the minister of industry to manage the more than 70 companies the state owns in detail? – Saying no to such an environmentally harmful and old-fashioned fossil fuel business as fracking should be fairly easy to say. We know that other private ownership circles say this, and then it will be entirely possible for the Norwegian state to do the same. Chairman of the business committee at the Storting, Willfred Nordlund, also took part in the Storting’s trip to Argentina this autumn. Chairman of the industry committee at the Storting, Willfred Nordlund. Photo: Sigurd Steinum / news – Fracking is, after all, a sunset industry. But how soon it will be finished is hard to say. A lot depends on the local support for this business in Argentina and the USA. The Center Party will not instruct Equinor to stop fracking.
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Equinor’s fracking meets harsh criticism in the Storting – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
