CEO in Gassco, Brian Bjordal.

Norwegian gas output is set to stay at a high and stable level over the coming decade. But forecasts indicate that new producing fields and transport solutions will be needed after 2020 to maintain delivery commitments to the rest of Europe.

To secure gas supplies, good decisions will need to be taken in coming years. These must be based on an overall understanding of the opportunities. That applies particularly to the high north.

Such integrated assessments are complex. Gassco can contribute knowledge, but it is important to emphasise that the decisions must be taken by commercial companies.

We in Gassco will come up with transport solutions which ensure maximum value creation for gas resources on the northern Norwegian continental shelf (NCS). We can best achieve this by providing as much information as possible for the companies which want their gas exported to the market. Like the rest of the petroleum industry, we are concerned to see that the gas deposits on the NCS are managed in the best possible way for the community.

A pipeline from the high north will also call for facilities on land to process the gas for onward transfer. These would call for major investment and will naturally create jobs and revenues in northern Norway. Surveys by Statistics Norway (SSB) show that employment depend to only a limited extent on whether petroleum resources are landed or not. Less than 10 per cent of the jobs are directly associated with terminals.

The petroleum sector’s employment effect is largely independent of field development concepts, but rests to a great extent on the overall progress of the industry. To secure the largest possible spin-offs, the basis must be laid for cost-effective solutions which ensure exploration activity and the development of recoverable oil and gas.

Regardless of where the gas is processed, substantial facilities will be needed in northern Norway to make these resources suitable for transport to the market.

(20.01.2012)