A number of measures are being taken by Statoil to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, Einar Strømsvåg, senior vice president for manufacturing, told a meeting on 28 September.
Speaking at the Tjeldbergodden conference in mid-Norway, he emphasised that these efforts show how the group takes climate change seriously.
Since carbon dioxide crosses national boundaries, he added, international measures such as emission trading represent a key instrument for reducing them.
“Such transactions across national boundaries will be crucial in stimulating energy efficiency, investment in renewables and use of carbon dioxide for industrial purposes,” Mr Strømsvåg said.
“Norway should accordingly incorporate the European Union’s directive on emission trading into Norwegian law.”
In his speech, Mr Strømsvåg also detailed the plans being pursued by Statoil to secure continued development at Tjeldbergodden’s gas-based industrial complex.
These involve investing some NOK 5.5 billion in a 35 per cent expansion of methanol production and the construction of a 860-megawatt gas-fired power station.
Margareth Øvrum, Statoil’s executive vice president for health, safety and the environment, called at a separate meeting in Oslo for a Norwegian drive to cut carbon emissions.
Being held today, 29 September, this conference deals with the potential use of carbon dioxide to improve recovery on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS).
Ms Øvrum noted that Statoil takes a positive view of this application and has been pursuing it since 1988.
But neither Norway nor Britain have implemented any developments of this kind because none of them have proved commercial.
On the other hand, Statoil has realised three pioneering and internationally-acclaimed projects – two on the NCS and one in Algeria – for pure sub-surface storage of carbon dioxide.
“In our view, profitable improved recovery developments on the NCS using carbon dioxide cannot be expected under normal project assessment and current frame conditions,” Ms Øvrum noted.
This means that agreement must be reached between industry, government and other interests in Norway on what to do about carbon dioxide if progress is to be made offshore and on land.
Presentations: (in Norwegian only)
Statoils industriplaner på Tjeldbergodden