Russian- Norwegian energy cooperation
The new oil-and-gas giant - the Norwegian company created on the basis of merge Statoil and Hydro, - can make a serious competition of Russia in the market of deliveries of power resources in the countries of the continental Europe. Norway provides 15 % of all energy sector of the Western Europe. By estimations of scientists, resources of a continental shelf of the country are still being developed, thus, as it is considered now, the basic unknown reserves are concentrated in Barents Sea near the Russian border.
Long-term cooperation with Russia is one of mainstreams of the Norwegian foreign policy in the Far North. This information was declared by Odd Roger Enoksen the Oil Industry and Energy Minister of Norway. The minister said that Russia and Norway are large manufacturers of oil and gas, and they are also the neighbors in the North and share the responsibility for resource management of the Barents Sea.
The Minister has also mentioned that the Norwegian government will continue the implementation of the Norwegian oil-and-gas industry extensive support and will try to cooperate with Russia in this sector.
Roger Enoksen expects that in the nearest future the export of the Norwegian gas will reach 125-140 billion cubic meters; this will become possible, if new gas areas (Ormen Lange and Snevit) will be explored.
Enoksen has also stressed that Norwegian government does not support the idea of one more gas-exporters alliance establishment and insists just on mutual cooperation.