Energy seminar in London

Organised by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in London, the seminar brought together some 100 representatives of political life, trade and industry, academia and the media.

The theme of the seminar was the current state of, and future prospects for, energy cooperation between the UK and Norway. The seminar was organised into three sessions, with focus on the role of gas in the energy supply of the future, wind power and other renewable energy sources, and Norwegian-British cooperation on international climate issues, respectively.

The UK an important market

In his speech, Crown Prince Haakon highlighted that the UK is Norway’s most important export market.

– The cornerstone of UK–Norwegian relations today is the energy sector. The UK is the most important export market for Norway, with more than 90 % of these exports comprising oil and gas. Today’s seminar reflects the strong UK–Norwegian relationship in this area.

In addition to the Crown Prince, seminar participants included Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy Ola Borten Moe, Minister of Trade and Industry Trond Giske, State Secretary Kjetil Lund of the Ministry of Finance, representatives of the management of Statoil, Statkraft and Statnett, as well as representatives of the UK authorities and trade and industry.

Opening a wind farm

On Thursday, Crown Prince Haakon will undertake the official opening of the Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm off the coast of Norfolk in the UK, which was constructed and is jointly owned by Statkraft and Statoil.

– I am very much looking forward to tomorrow's big event, the official opening of the Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm, an example of how offshore wind production is providing both renewable energy and a basis for closer technology and business cooperation between the UK and Norway, The Crown Prince said in his speech.