Norwegian govt intervenes to end oil and gas strike
Norway's government has stepped in to avert a strike that could have led to shut-in of up to 20% of the country's oil and gas supply, it said late on July 5.
Members of Norway's Lederne workers' union went on strike on July 5 over wage terms, forcing the closure of the Gudrun, Oseberg South and Oseberg East oil and gas fields, and additional workers were due to down tools at the Heidrun, Aasta Hansteen and Kristin fields at 00:00 on July 6.
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Combined, the industrial action at these six fields would have led to the loss of 13% of Norwegian hydrocarbon supply, according to the Norwegian Oil and Gas Association (NOGA). However, the government intervened by imposing compulsory arbitration, leading the strike to end. The dispute will be settled by Norway's national pay board.
Lederne had threatened to expand the strike to include workers at additional fields, which NOGA estimates would have led to 20% of Norwegian oil and gas supply going offline.
The disruption comes at a time when Europe is already grappling with soaring gas prices as result of reductions in Russian supply.
"We’re pleased that the government understands the seriousness of the situation and is acting to maintain Norway’s good reputation as a reliable and stable supplier of natural gas to Europe,” NOGA said in a statement.