A key role is being played by Statoil in the technical committee of a 17-nation group working to compile a list of technology projects which can help to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
The Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF) maintains that improving energy efficiency and using renewable energy are not enough to fulfil the Kyoto protocol.
Capturing and storing carbon dioxide could be required in addition, according to the group – which includes Norway among its members.
The other participants are the USA, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, South Africa, India, China, Japan, Australia, Russia, Germany, France, Italy, the UK and the European Commission.
In addition to coordinating member efforts to develop carbon sequestration technology, the CSLF is seeking to harmonise national regulations on this issue.
At a ministerial meeting in Melbourne, Australia, earlier this month, the forum agreed on a communiqué which clearly identifies sequestration as one of several important responses to climate challenges.
A policy committee has been appointed to continue the collaboration. In addition comes the technical committee, where Statoil’s Tore A Torp is deputy chair and Norway’s representative.
He is adviser on carbon dioxide storage at the group’s Rotvoll research centre in Trondheim.
“I bring the expertise and experience I have acquired in Statoil to the committee,” says Mr Torp. “My appointment is a recognition of this know-how.”
The technical committee has identified various projects relating to carbon sequestration world-wide, and produced a technical road map to show how far the technology has come.
It is currently working on a list of priorities for important development tasks.