UK energy and climate change minister, Ed Miliband (left) and StatoilHydro CEO, Helge Lund, met this week in London to discuss issues relating to business. (Photo: Peter Whyte)
Miliband underlined the UK’s good relationship with Norway and StatoilHydro. He stressed the company’s important role as a reliable supplier of natural gas to the UK market. The minister also expressed interest in the Sheringham Shoal wind farm project.
Business activities
Lund, Alexandra Bech Gjørv, senior vice president for new energy, and Torgrim Reitan, senior vice president Natural Gas, informed the minister about StatoilHydro’s business activities in the UK and related issues.
Lund underlined StatoilHydro's role as energy partner with the UK.
“We are exporting large gas volumes to the UK, and we have important projects here both within upstream oil and gas and offshore wind,” he said.
StatoilHydro currently employs about 250 people in Statoil UK. Our business activities include natural gas trading, crude trading, and exploration and production in the UK, Ireland, and the Faroe Islands.
Two operatorships
StatoilHydro also have two major operatorships in the pipeline. Next year major construction starts at the Sheringham Shoal offshore wind farm, consisting of 88 wind turbines that will be able to supply power to approximately 220,000 homes. The Mariner and Bressay heavy oil fields are also currently being evaluated for development.
New offices
Growing activities in Statoil UK rendered the old office building in Regents Street too small, and the company recently moved to new offices close to Paddington Station. The new quarters occupy the two top floors of a modern office building.
"The opening of the new, larger office in London demonstrates our commitment to long-term business in the UK,” Lund said.
In addition to meeting with Miliband, Lund officially opened the new premises.