Industries

The Federation of Norwegian Industries expects a total growth in turnover of 6 per cent this year. A continued growing demand from the Norwegian Shelf is the driving force behind the growth.

After the Labour Party has opened up for an impact assessment study of oil exploration in Lofoten, their sudden change of mind faces strong reactions, and it comes too early according to some.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Approximately 40,000 citizens from within the European Economic Area (EEA) and close to 10,000 workers outside of the EEA were granted work permits in Norway last year.

The largest group of workers, 15,000, arrived from Poland, according to figures released by the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI). There is also a large number of Swedes that come to Norway to work, but the directorate does not register them as immigrant workers.

The number of immigrants from Southern Europe has increased from 1600 in 2011 to 2700 in 2012, but is still lower than expected.

Minister of Labour Anniken Huitfeldt is pleased with the increased number of  immigrant workers who choose to come to Norway. She says the country is in need of even more workers, especially engineers and people from the health sector.

The Minister thinks our growing economy combined with good salaries and working conditions are part of the reason why more workers choose to come here. Huitfeldt also says that she is pleased with the shorter processing times now offered by the UDI, and the close contact they have with the labour market.

The report by UDI also states that the number of immigrant workers who come to Norway is much higher than the number of asylum seekers.

(Aftenposten)
 

Statoil has confirmed that the fifth and last missing Statoil employee after the terror attack at In Amenas, Victor Sneberg (56), second from left, resident in Sandnes, has been confirmed dead.

“It is with deep sorrow that we have received the news today that Victor Sneberg, our country manager in Algeria, is among those who lost their lives in the terror attack at In Amenas,” says chief executive Helge Lund.

“Five friends and colleagues who were going about their work for Statoil will never return to their loved ones. They represented the very best of our company. Our thoughts and deepest compassion go first and foremost to the families, friends and colleagues who have lost those dear to them. Everyone in Statoil shares their grief. In the time ahead those most affected will need our support.”

The four who have previously been confirmed dead and who were brought home to Norway on 30 January are Tore Bech (58), Hans M Bjone (55), Thomas Snekkevik (35) and Alf Vik (43).

A mourning ceremony will be held in HÃ¥kon’s Hall in Bergen, Norway, on Monday 4 February.
 

Norwegian oil and gas group Statoil and its partners presented plans on Tuesday to develop a Norwegian Sea gas field and build a pipeline at a cost of 57 billion kroner ($10 billion). Statoil submitted a plan to the Norwegian government to begin development of the Aasta Hansteen field, believed to hold 47 billion cubic metres of gas, starting in late 2017.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minister of Transport and Communications, Marit Arnstad, says she will not give priority to the  building of high speed trains between Oslo and Trondheim and between Oslo and Trondheim.

In her opinion there are other tasks within the transport sector which are more important, and she will instead give priority to developing the InterCity train services around the larger cities in South Eastern Norway, and in the Bergen region on the West Coast.

- It is difficult to visualize how we in today's economic situation can give priority to high speed trains, Arnstad says.

Instead, the Transport Minister will use the money on further develop the train services around the larger cities.
 

Opening up more northern areas for the oil industry could create between 13,000 and 37,000 jobs, and from NOK 26-55 billions in added value.

 

Some 160 workers in Norway's oil sector will walk off the job on Sunday unless they reach a wage negotiation deal with employers, their union said on Friday, though production would not be affected.

The North Sea has some way to go before running out of oil but faced with falling output, unlocking new reserves is proving technologically complex and expensive, according to experts.

A nationwide strike in the construction industry was avoided when the two sides reached agreement on Saturday, after arbitration 8.5 hours on overtime.

Norwegian electricity production reached 14 431 GWh in February 2012.