US ambassador Barry B. White, Norwegian industry and trade minister Trond Giske and executive vice president Øystein Michelsen were at the Hammerfest LNG plant today. (Photo: Therese Bang Larsen)
The visit was part of a tour of Troms and Finnmark counties. Giske wished to show White the Snøhvit facility operated by Statoil at Melkøya and Norway’s high-tech supplies industry.
“Hammerfest LNG demonstrates how we can develop our business in close collaboration with local government and lay the basis for long-term value creation and activity in a region earlier affected by emigration,” said Michelsen.
“It’s an inspiration to receive guests at Melkøya and allow them to feel the commitment and optimism which has characterised this region in recent years.”
He presented the history behind the Snøhvit development to Giske and White, and highlighted the way in which Statoil works to realise future opportunities on the Norwegian continental shelf.
“We’ll be maintaining a high level of activity on the NCS in the years come,” he observed after the visit.
“At the same time, operations will shift to some extent from major field projects to modifications of existing facilities.
“I’ve briefed the industry minister on our views about future developments and about the opportunities these offer for Norway’s technology and supplies industry as a whole.”