This week, news revealed a cooperation agreement between Norway and Russia relating to safety on the Norwegian continental shelf from 2020. The Petroleum Safety Authority’s agreement with Russia’s Rostekhnadzor was concluded “with a view to closer cooperation to raise the level of safety in the oil and gas industry”. It includes: Sharing of information and documentation Exchange of experience, meetings, workshops and consultations Researcher Ina Holst-Pedersen Kvam at the Norwegian Naval Academy reacts to one part of the agreement in particular: “Neither party will be responsible for the consequences of using the results of cooperation on the other party’s territory under this Agreement, unless otherwise agreed.” – This describes that the Russian authorities can freely use information from industrial espionage without consequences, says Holst-Pedersen Kvam. The Petroleum Safety Authority has previously told news that there have been no meetings with Rostekhnadzor after the agreement was signed. The parties also do not have any ongoing cooperation today, according to the inspection. Questions the Petroleum Safety Authority’s safety assessments Documents to which news has gained access indicate that Norway and Russia have met several times over the years for meetings on supervision and safety. Holst-Pedersen Kvam at the Norwegian Naval Academy conducts daily research on the Russian defence, with a particular interest in, among other things, Russian military doctrine and strategy. She questions what safety assessments and control measures the Petroleum Safety Authority has carried out before the meetings with Russian supervisory authorities. – It is no secret that such powerful people have a connection to the Russian security service. Information from these meetings can be used for sabotage purposes, says Holst-Pedersen Kvam. Researcher Ina Holst-Pedersen Kvam is critical of the authorities’ security assessments in the face of Russia. Photo: Forsvarets høgskole Actions and conversations that may initially seem harmless, including exchanging documents, routines and experiences from the Norwegian petroleum sector, can have great value for Russia, according to the researcher. – Think of it as a reverse Jenga game, where the Russians are looking for which pieces to place to make the tower collapse. I don’t have the impression that various agencies have seen the overall danger in dealing with the Russians, says Holst-Pedersen Kvam. The Petroleum Safety Authority does not want to answer news’s questions about its own safety assessments in connection with the cooperation agreement. Read the inspectorate’s response further down in the case. The politicians want to know more Both Rødt leader Bjørnar Moxnes and SV deputy leader Kirsti Bergstø react to the fact that the Petroleum Safety Authority entered into such an agreement with the Russian authorities as late as 2020. Especially considering that the Police Security Service (PST) warned in a report that Russian intelligence mapped gas pipelines and other oil and gas facilities on the Norwegian continental shelf. – We want clarity on both why the Ministry of Foreign Affairs allocated money to such a project and whether PST’s warnings were considered before renewing the agreement in 2020. What kind of information have they gained access to through the collaboration, and what risk this information poses today, says Moxnes, who has also submitted a written question about the matter to Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt (Ap). Bjørnar Moxnes (Red) asks the government to explain whether security risks were assessed when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs financed parts of the Petroleum Safety Authority’s activities with Rostekhnadzor. Photo: Cicilie S. Andersen / Cicilie S. Andersen SV deputy leader Berstø also wants to know what is being done to prevent the Petroleum Safety Authority’s agreement with the Russians from becoming a security policy problem later. – We will now challenge the current government to clean up and end the contract, says Bergstø to news. FRP politician Per-Willy Amundsen believes it does not look good that the Petroleum Safety Authority renewed the agreement one month after PST’s warnings. – This shows that the authorities have been far too naive towards Russia, says Amundsen. Wanted Russia as an observer under supervision news has gained access to the Petroleum Safety Authority’s e-mail exchange with Russian supervisory authorities and budget reporting to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The documents show a number of planned meetings between 2011 and 2018, to which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs contributes funds. In the accounts for 2015, it is stated, among other things, that the Petroleum Safety Authority and the Russian Rostekhnadzor are to be observers in each other’s supervision. When the Petroleum Safety Authority, in a report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2016, is to explain the risk management in the cooperation with Russia’s supervisory authority, nothing is mentioned about the risk of security and industrial espionage. news has asked the Petroleum Safety Authority questions about whether Russian authorities ever participated in inspections on the Norwegian continental shelf. We have also asked for the assessments and measures taken by the supervisory authority to limit the risk of industrial espionage. In an e-mail, the Petroleum Safety Authority’s press contact Eileen Brundtland writes: – The questions you are asking relate to a matter where two ministers have now been asked to answer the Storting. This means that we do not want to answer these questions to the media now. Believes Norway’s approach to Russia should be scrutinized Researcher Ina Holst-Pedersen Kvam at the Naval Academy lists a number of news articles about Russian research expeditions, access to seismic data and cooperation agreements which she believes indicate a naive attitude from the Norwegian authorities. – I will be very surprised if a commission is not set up and that we get a major investigation or evaluation soon. The strategic value of the Norwegian shelf has consistently been underestimated, says the researcher and continues: – We have painted ourselves into a corner with little focus on security. It is incredible to follow the vulnerabilities that appear. Now various people in power must put aside the need not to lose face.
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Strong reactions to Norway’s cooperation agreement with Russia – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
