-Increased efforts to advance gas-fired power plants with CO2 capture and storage is a main element in the Government's energy policy presented in the White paper on domestic use of natural gas. This is a historical effort to achieve an important technological break-through, which will help us meet the climate challenges we are facing, says Mr. Einar Steensnæs, Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy.

In the White paper, the Government also presents a policy on increased domestic use of natural gas, increased efforts on hydrogen, provision of electricity from the mainland to installations on the Norwegian continental shelf and a policy on green certificates.

-We should aim at participating in an international mandatory certificate market for green electricity. I believe that international certificate trade will stimulate an efficient development of electricity based on renewable energy sources in Europe, says Minister Steensnæs.

There is an increasing interest to develop green certificate markets for renewable electricity in Europe. The Government proposes that Norway should contribute to an advanced development of an international market. In doing so, consideration must be given to environmental concerns, security of supply and an acceptable management of natural resources in Norway.