Norway Sends Soldiers to Guard Major Oil & Gas Plants After Nord Stream Leaks
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.
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.
(Reporting by Terje Solsvik, editing by Ed Osmond)
Photograph: Johan Sverdrup oil field off the North Sea is shown on Oct. 9, 2018. Europe’s frantic search for alternatives to Russian natural gas has dramatically increased the demand — and price — for Norway’s oil and gas. Photo credit: Carina Johansen/NTB Scanpix via AP.
Related:
- TotalEnergies Reports Unusual Drone Activity Near North Sea Oil & Gas Field
- Russia Gas Pipelines Now Have Four Leaks, Blamed by Some on Sabotage
- Gas Leaks in Russia-Europe Nord Stream Pipelines Raise Sabotage Fears
- Unidentified Drones Pose Risk of Accidents, Attacks at Oil & Gas Platforms: Norway Watchdog