Petroleum White Paper Must Safeguard Activity and Job
The Styrke trade union is calling on the government to ensure stable framework conditions, continued exploration activity, and high health, safety and environmental (HSE) standards in the forthcoming petroleum white paper.
In a submission to the Ministry of Energy, the union emphasizes the importance of the oil and gas industry for employment, value creation, and energy supplies to Europe.
“The upcoming petroleum white paper must provide the basis for stable and predictable framework conditions for the industry and aim to give the Norwegian Parliament a foundation for broad agreement on the main principles of future petroleum policy,” says Styrke President Frode Alfheim.
Styrke believes that access to new exploration acreage is crucial for maintaining activity on the Norwegian Continental Shelf and securing future energy deliveries.
“A strong and long-term exploration policy on the Norwegian Continental Shelf is essential to ensure the availability of energy in our part of the world. Access to attractive exploration acreage is vital in order to make the discoveries needed to sustain activity throughout the entire value chain,” says Alfheim.
He expects oil companies that are awarded licenses on the Norwegian Continental Shelf to actively carry out exploration.
At the same time, the union supports measures that contribute to emission reductions and the development of new industries such as offshore wind and carbon capture and storage (CCS), while stressing that safety standards must remain uncompromised during the transition.
“All future activity on or related to the Norwegian Continental Shelf must maintain a strong focus on health, safety and the environment (HSE). It is important that the work of continuous improvement in HSE is maintained and strengthened, both in related industries and in the emerging sectors,” says Alfheim.
The union believes that close cooperation between employers, employees and government authorities will be essential to maintaining current safety standards.
In its submission, Styrke highlights six priority areas: access to exploration acreage, competitive framework conditions, a stronger power balance combined with emissions reductions, further development of the supplier industry, improved conditions for CO₂ storage, and increased investment in offshore wind.
The goal is to safeguard jobs, value creation and energy transition in the years ahead.
