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Norway No Longer Ashamed of Oil Drilling

 

Politicians are calling for more exploration and more extraction of oil. Tina Bru, the Conservative Party's 2nd Deputy Leader, says she is not oil shamed and has great faith in the oil industry in Norway going forward.

2nd Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party, Tina Bru, speaks in front of an audience at a debate. She says Norway's "Drill baby, drill" is "develop, not dismantle." Photo: Erik Waage / NRK

We report from Stavanger

US President Donald J. Trump said in his inauguration speech on 20 January: "Drill baby, drill!"

The same thing happened to the Progress Party's Youth (Norwegian: FPU) leader Simen Velle this fall.

Energy Minister Terje Aasland believes that we should be proud of oil instead of being ashamed of oil.

We should further develop an incredibly important industry for Norway, he says.

Change in the view of oil

There has been a change in recent years in the discussions around oil exploration and drilling.

While the main topic before was whether we should phase out or not, the focus is now on looking for more oil.

It is a result of the war in Europe. People have opened their eyes to energy security in Europe, says Tina Bru.

She says it is fascinating how the debate has turned in recent years.

Oil shame is a silly term, she continues.

I am confident that we will further develop, and not phase out, the Norwegian continental shelf, says Aasland.

Young people are less worried about climate change. The least worried are young people in the oil counties of Rogaland and Østfold.

Terje Aasland and Tina Bru participated in an oil debate at Aker in Stavanger this week. The debate was organized by the Styrke Trade Union (Norwegian: Forbundet Styrke).

The debate opened with the song "Pump it up" as a hint to pump more oil on the Norwegian shelf.

From the debate in Aker organized by the Styrke Trade Union. Photo: Erik Waage / NRK

I think we will look for more oil

Frode Alfheim, leader of the Norwegian Industry Energy, believes that Norway will have a major focus on exploration for oil and gas in the future.

Europe has asked us to actively look for more oil and gas. They are screaming for it, he says.

There will be general elections in the fall. Alfheim believes that oil will be an important issue – regardless of which political side wins.

There should be a broad majority in the government in favor of exploring for more oil and gas. It will provide many jobs and not least income for the entire Norwegian society, says Alfheim.

Frode Alfheim, union leader in Industri Energi. He believes that Norway will continue to invest in oil exploration. – It provides jobs and income for the whole of society, he says. Photo: Erik Waage / NRK

Alfheim emphasizes that the industry is working to limit the climate footprint in the oil and gas industry.

We are making the climate cuts that we need to make in the industry.

And Energy Minister Aasland says oil and gas are a very important driver for the development of the green industry.

We can deliver technology, solutions and knowledge that the world is demanding. Oil and gas are the foundation of this, he says.

Energy Minister Terje Aasland (Ap) believes oil and gas are crucial for developing new, green industry. Photo: Sara Johanna Ringhagen / NRK

Progress Party leader Sylvi Listhaug wants to drill for oil for another 100 years. She says:

We know that the world will need oil and gas for the foreseeable future.

Red warns

Storting representative Mímir Kristjánsson believes we must have a clear plan for phasing out the oil industry.

New oil is not appearing in the sea. The fields will eventually become empty. It is possible to open new areas, but I do not know if people understand the consequences of the destruction of nature, he says.

Kristjánsson says we cannot just continue to explore and build new infrastructure.

We will have wind power over all Norwegian heaths, we will drill for minerals on land and on the seabed and we will drill for oil far up in the Barents Sea. We cannot just continue to expand, says the representative of the parliament.

Mimir Kristjansson looks into the camera. A look of moroseness. Storting representative for the Red, Mímir Kristjánsson. He warns against indiscriminate oil exploration and points to major environmental consequences. Photo: Heiko Junge / NTB

Divided opinions about Trump's influence

Back to the USA and Donald Trump.

Trump's political signals on energy policy could have major ripple effects for the Norwegian economy, believes Chief Economist Kyrre M. Knudsen.

Knudsen believes the USA will produce more oil, which will cause the oil price to fall, and that Norway will earn less from selling oil.

Energy Minister Aasland does not share the same concerns.

I do not think Trump's statements will affect Norway or Norwegian deliveries to Europe in any way. Europe is concerned that Norway will be the stabilizing factor going forward, he says.

Nevertheless, he believes prices could move more frequently.

Prices will probably go up and down a bit.

Source: NRK (in Norwegian)

04.02.2025