Norway Posts Soldiers at Oil, Gas Plants after Nord Stream Leaks

Credit; Norway Armed Forces
Credit; Norway Armed Forces

 Norway's military said on Monday it had posted soldiers to help guard major onshore oil and gas processing plants, part of a wider effort to boost security amid suspicion that sabotage caused leaks in the Nord Stream gas pipelines last week.

Russia's Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines burst on Sept. 26, draining gas into the Baltic Sea off the coast of Denmark and Sweden. Seismologists registered explosions in the area, and police in several countries have launched investigations.

Norway, Europe's largest gas supplier and a major oil exporter, last week deployed its navy and air force to patrol offshore petroleum fields and announced it would receive assistance from Britain, Germany, and France in doing so.

At the request of Norwegian police, the Norwegian Home Guard, a rapid mobilization force, on Monday began to deploy troops at plants responsible for processing and exporting oil and gas.

Although the Norwegian government has said it was not aware of any specific threats to oil and gas infrastructure, it still found it prudent to beef up security and sought to calm concerns among workers.

Among the onshore facilities receiving police and military protection on Monday were the Kollsnes and Nyhamna gas export terminals, the Kaarstoe gas and condensate plant and the Mongstad oil refinery.

A spokesperson for the armed forces declined to say how many soldiers were deployed, citing security concerns.


 (Reuters - Reporting by Terje Solsvik, editing by Ed Osmond)

Current News

Danos Leaders Recognized in “40 Under 40” Lists

Danos Leaders Recognized in “4

ExxonMobil to Drill for Gas Off Cyprus in January

ExxonMobil to Drill for Gas Of

Mocean Energy Raising Funds to Advance Wave Energy Tech

Mocean Energy Raising Funds to

Seadrill’s Drillships Getting Ready to Start Work Off Brazil

Seadrill’s Drillships Getting

Subscribe for OE Digital E‑News

Offshore Engineer Magazine