Brussels, 02/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - European Energy and Climate Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete said on Monday 1 June during his visit to Oslo, within the framework of the EU-Norway energy dialogue, that he wanted to deepen the energy partnership between the European Union and Norway, one of its major gas suppliers.
“Norway is a key supplier of secure energy to the EU, helping to shore up our energy security. Under our plans for Energy Union, we are working towards diversifying our energy suppliers and Norway plays an important role in achieving this goal. I am committed to developing further our energy partnership with Norway”, stated Canete at a meeting with Norwegian Petroleum and Energy Minister Tord Lien.
Norway is one of the EU's main suppliers of gas and oil: in 2014, it provided over 30% of EU gas imports and more than 10% of its oil imports. In the fourth quarter of 2014, EU gas imports from Norway, which rose to a record level of 31.3 billion m3, far exceeded those from Russia.
During their meeting, Canete and Lien discussed the energy union strategy, the internal energy market and Norway's contribution to the security of EU supply. They also talked about cooperation on carbon capture and storage and Norway's involvement in regional energy cooperation.
Earlier on Monday, Canete addressed the Norwegian parliament's energy and environment committee and met Vidar Helgesen, Norwegian EEA and EU affairs minister, and Kristine Sundtoft, Norwegian climate and environment minister.
On Tuesday, the visit continued with a visit to the Troll gas field, which provides 25% of the country's production, and the Sima hydro power plant. (Emmanuel Hagry)