The Minister of Oil and Energy Terje Aasland (Ap) is present today at the Storting to answer questions relating to gas leaks in the Baltic Sea.
Aasland confirmed on Tuesday evening that Norway is stepping up preparedness on the Norwegian continental shelf following leaks on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines in the Baltic Sea.
Asked whether the government will take action following the reports of gas leaks, published an hour earlier, he stressed that it is the oil and gas companies that are responsible for safety on the Norwegian continental shelf.
Sources: Announce news on stock-sensitive giants
– Have independent responsibility for managing shelf safety and the stability and predictability of gas supplies. Companies pay great attention to security. Of course we support them in this, but the companies are responsible, Aasland told NTB.
The Ministry: – Disagrees
Dagbladet asked Aasland to elaborate on the comments.
– Yesterday’s statements by the Minister of Oil and Energy have been interpreted to mean that he believes oil companies are also responsible for safeguarding Norwegian social security linked to the Norwegian continental shelf. Not true, writes Ministry of Oil and Energy communications adviser Stine Grimsrud in an email to Dagbladet.
– This responsibility lies with the state.
What the minister was referring to in the statement, says the communications consultant, was that, under the Petroleum Act, licensees are responsible for all their activities, including the safety of their facilities.
Because he referred to this, when asked if the government would take action, the ministry will not respond.
– All the facts must be on the table
– Hair raising
The opposition to the Storting is dissatisfied with the comments of the Minister of Oil and Energy.
“It just doesn’t work,” Venstre leader Guri Melby wrote on Twitter.
– It is hair-raising that Aasland points to the responsibility of Norwegian oil and gas companies when it comes to powerful pipeline explosions in Allied waters. Does the government not understand seriousness? He says again.
REQUESTS ANSWERS: Liberal leader Guri Melby calls on the government to clean up and clarify who is responsible for the safety of gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea.
sea View
– Putin is constantly looking for ways to show European citizens that we should give up support for the Russian war in Ukraine. A sabotage attack that questions whether Norway is capable of supplying gas to Europe probably fits well with his plan, he continues.
Call the ministers to the mat
– The CIA warned
Both the Conservative Party and the FRP demanded that Aasland be accountable to the Storting last night, which he will now do.
– There are many indications that the gas leak in the Baltic Sea may be due to sabotage. It is therefore very important that measures are taken to ensure the safety of oil and gas plants and pipelines that go to various European countries. This is also the best for those who work for us on the Norwegian continental shelf who feel safe, FRP leader Sylvi Listhaug said yesterday.
Guri Melby and Venstre wrote questions to the government about what is being done to increase preparedness against the threats of Russian digital and physical sabotage and other threatening activities against Norwegian gas exports.
The US CIA already warned Germany several weeks ago of possible attacks on Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea, according to German magazine Spiegel.
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