Energy Competence – Our Most Important Export Product

Speech by the Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Mr Terje Riis-Johansen, at the reception at the Norwegian EXPO pavallion for energy companies.

Ladies and gentlemen,
It is truly an honor for me to be here in Shanghai, China and to experience the EXPO 2010 – a most impressive achievement.

I am also delighted to be here at this informal gathering to say a few words about the Norwegian Energy competence, which is one of our most important export products today. Norway is a significant energy nation – also on the global scene. Whether you represent the renewable energy sector or the petroleum sector, I am confident that you can all agree with me on this.

Access to energy is cardinal for economic growth and development. The underlying trend is a growing demand for energy in the years to come. At the same time, we need to shift from a carbon intensive energy consumption to a low emission energy future. Both these trends are a fundamental asset for exporting the Norwegian energy competence.

Norway has more than one hundred years of experience as an energy nation. It all started with hydropower in early 1900 and today we are a major petroleum exporter. Our rich energy resources are largely the reason why Norway today is completely different from what it was a hundred years ago when Norway was among the least wealthy European nations.

The development of our hydropower resources was important in the development of Norway as a modern industrial nation. Norway is even today the world’s sixth largest producer of renewable hydropower and hydropower accounts for 99% of our domestic electricity production.

The Norwegian petroleum industry has since the discovery of Ekofisk in 1969 created significant value for the Norwegian society. Using the North Sea as a research laboratory, Norway has built a substantial petroleum cluster with state of the art technology in several areas where we have managed to remain competitive.

Competitiveness, competence and technology will be the key elements for the Norwegian petroleum and energy industry also in the future.

During this energy day here at the Norwegian Pavilion you have discussed issues that are very relevant for the industry today. The issues have ranged from how to implement smart renewables to the development of the global FPSO market and further on to risk management in large offshore projects.

I hope the seminars and the discussions have been interesting and that they have lead to increased interest in collaboration between you, the participants. Our common aims should be to increase the accessibility of new renewables and cleaner fossil fuels as well as maximize the value created for both parties.

The Norwegian government supports the international activities of the Norwegian petroleum industry and the renewable energy industry. The Norwegian Oil and Gas Partners (INTSOK) and Norwegian Renewable Energy Partners (INTPOW) have as their exclusive task to help the Norwegian industry to establish themselves in markets abroad. Their main asset is their extensive knowledge of the energy industries and an invaluable international network.

Being large energy nations, China and Norway are increasingly interlinked through cooperation between Chinese and Norwegian companies - in the renewable energy industry as well as the petroleum industry. We have several examples of this, in particular in the fields of hydropower and construction of offshore facilities.
Globalization of the petroleum and energy industry is an ongoing trend – and the main reason for why we are here today. Energy competence is, and will continue to be, the most important export product for Norway. 

Thank you.