The Labour party has today formed a new government in Norway.

Olav Akselsen (34) is appointed Minister of Petroleum and Energy. He has been a Member of Parliament since 1989. During this period he has been a member of different Parliament Standing Committees, including the Standing Committee on Justice, which he chaired for six months in 1993, and the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Akselsen has been a member of the Standing Committee on Energy and the Environment since 1997, the last two months as chairman.

Olav Akselsen has a university degree in geography. He has held a number of political positions, locally and nationally, since 1983.