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Why is Snøhvit Future so important?

Construction work at Melkøya
Construction of transformer station at Melkøya in March 2026
Photo: Jonny Engelsvoll/Equinor

The Snøhvit Future project at Melkøya in Hammerfest secures continued gas exports, value creation and economic development in Northern Norway, while cutting greenhouse gas emissions cost-effectively. Here we explain more about this extensive project. Further down the page, you will also find a selection of questions and answers about the project.

Snøhvit Future strengthens Norway's position as a reliable and long-term supplier of gas produced with very low greenhouse gas emissions. The project is important to secure jobs in Hammerfest and energy supply to Europe beyond 2050.

In accordance with the authorities' approval, we are planning onshore compression to ensure the flow of gas through the facility from 2029 and electrification from 2030.

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Neighbours’ webpage for the Snøhvit Future project

The work on a new electricity grid connection related to the Snøhvit Future project is well underway at Meland. Equinor has launched a dedicated webpage to keep neighbours well informed about the project. (Norwegian only.)

Have a look at the neighbours' webpage about Snøhvit Future grid connection

  • - 850,000 tonnes

    Reducing emissions by 850,000 tonnes per year

  • ~ 1,450 jobs

    Hammerfest LNG employs about 1,450 people, including ripple effects

  • 6.5 million households

    Every day, Hammerfest LNG provides light and heat for 6.5 million homes

  • 5 percent

    Five percent of Norway’s gas exports come from Melkøya

On 20 December 2022, Equinor, on behalf of the Snøhvit partnership, Equinor submitted the plan for development and operation (PDO) for Snøhvit Future to the Minister of Petroleum and Energy. On 8 August 2023, Norwegian authorities announced that the project had been approved. As of March 2026, the project is well over halfway completed and there is high activity at all locations. The start-up of onshore compression is planned for 2029 and the transition to electric operation is scheduled for 2030.

Extending lifespan, jobs, and ripple effects

Snøhvit Future will strengthen Norway's position as a reliable and long-term supplier of natural gas produced with very low greenhouse gas emissions. The project contributes to secure jobs in Hammerfest and energy supply to Europe beyond 2050.

During the development phase, Snøhvit Future will generate significant ripple effects both in Finnmark and the rest of the country. More than 70% of the value creation is expected to go to Norwegian companies, representing a value of NOK 14.5 billion. More than a third of this will go to Northern Norway, primarily Finnmark. Regional employment during the project period is estimated at close to 2,000 person-years, of which around 1,700 will be local. At the national level, the project is expected to generate approximately 8,800 person-years.

Hammerfest LNG is a central enterprise in the region with up to 500 employees, 38 apprentices, and between 150-200 contractors/suppliers. Including ripple effects, Hammerfest LNG contributes 1,450 person-years in total. The partnership in the Snøhvit licence is committed to ensuring that Hammerfest LNG remains competitive and viable even in a low-carbon society, enabling us to keep these important jobs.

Significant emission reductions

Norway is to halve CO2 emissions from the production of oil and gas on the Norwegian continental shelf by 2030 (compared with 2005). This is essential for Norway to meet its commitments under the Paris Agreement. The electrification of Hammerfest LNG is the largest single emission-reducing measure for Norway to achieve its climate goals. By replacing the power from the current gas turbines with power from the mainland, we will cut the annual CO2 emissions by 850,000 tonnes, equivalent to two percent of Norway's annual emissions.

About the development solution

The Snøhvit Future project consists of onshore compression and electrification of Hammerfest LNG at Melkøya. Onshore compression will help maintain peak production when the pressure in the reservoirs is reduced, while electrification with power from the mainland will remove significant greenhouse gas emissions from the gas turbines that currently power the plant.

A substation is now being constructed at Melkøya, ahead of installing compressor modules and electrode steam boilers. Extensive modification work is also under way.

A tunnel is now being operated to carry power cables from Hyggevatn to Meland. From Meland, sea cables will be installed over to Melkøya.

The electrification of Hammerfest LNG triggers the need for more power to the Hammerfest region. This need and a construction contribution of up to NOK 600 million has triggered Statnett's construction of a new 420 kV power line from Skaidi to Hyggevatn.

Main suppliers

Aibel has been awarded a contract for modification work at Hammerfest LNG.

Examples of subcontractors to Aibel:

  • Consto has been awarded the largest of these contracts, for building and civil works. Consto is headquartered in Tromsø and has offices in both Alta and Hammerfest. The contract is expected to employ 200-300 person-years over two years, not only for Consto's employees but also for several of the company's partners in Northern Norway, such as Larsen Maskin og Transport and Jaro.
  • Rapp Bomek in Bodø delivers fire doors.
  • Bilfinger in Hammerfest provides scaffolding.
  • Parat Halvorsen in Flekkefjord has delivered electrode steam boilers, built at Randaberg Industries.
  • Momek in Mo i Rana has delivered steel structures.
  • Polarkonsult in Harstad delivers system documentation.
  • Norconsult delivers engineering services.
  • Hammerfest Industriservice provides prefabrication of steel structures.
  • Nordic Crane and Crane Norway supply cranes.
  • Printhuset in Hammerfest delivers printing services.

Multiconsult has been responsible for the design of the grid connection associated with the Snøhvit Future project and now supports Equinor in the construction phase. The contract employs staff from Alta in the north to Fredrikstad in the south. The design team is led from Multiconsult's office in Tromsø, and the company has established a new office in Hammerfest.

Nexans will supply and install power and fibre optic cables. Parts of the power cable are produced in Halden and the fibre optic cable in Rognan in Nordland.

LNS (Leonhard Nilsen og sønner) from Andøy municipality has been awarded the contract for building the grid connection (tunnel from Hyggevatn to Meland and landfall on land).

Examples of subcontractors:

  • Ølen Betong in Hammerfest delivers concrete.
  • Viggo Eriksen in Hammerfest provides construction work.
  • Gagama Elektro in Hammerfest delivers electrical work.
  • Alta Anlegg delivers cast-in-place concrete.
  • Sjøentreprenøren in Bergen is carrying out marine work towards Melkøya and Meland, and for the sea fill at Meland.
  • Entreprenørservice from Oslo is drilling tunnels for the submarine cables.
  • Coor Hammerfest provides catering services.
  • Helgesen Maskin and Hammerfest Maskinforretning.

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News

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

In the past year, we have received — and answered — a large number of questions about the Snøhvit Future project. Here are some of them.

General questions about Snøhvit Future

Electrification, power and climate

Carbon capture and storage (CCS)

Conditions in the approved plan for development and operation (PDO)

Economy