ShipCrunch

Economist missed!

By Ryan Skinner (email)

Even the Economist shows a human side. A briefing called "Norway and the environment" in the Economist's most recent issue fell for a line of argument that distorts the real picture of the environmental situation here. By falling for the easy, but wrong-minded, take, the Economist missed the real story.

26 January - DN's marine headlines

Marine headlines in DN, the Norwegian biz daily, on 26 January:

• Want to close loopholes: Offshore oil's usual critics (mostly environmentalists, conservationists and fishermen) have directed their ire on the government's 2003 policy of expediting the sale of plots for exploration in mature and easily exploited areas of the Norwegian continental shelf. Not surprisingly, the oil industry is for the policy.
• Gazprom wants to come to Norway: The operator of Norway's network of gas pipelines, Gassco, has received a request from Russian Gazprom to ship its gas via Norway, though a formal application has not been delivered. Gazprom's interest seems to be access to the British market.
• Shtokman development delayed: The targeted date for start of production at Russia's enormous Arctic gas field Shtokman (2013-14) is unrealistic, according to several media. One expert described 2021 as a more realistic target date. 
• Large contract to Aker Solutions: BP extends a maintenance contract with Aker Solutions worth USD 140-210 million. This covers all 12 of BP's platforms on the Norwegian continental shelf.

By Ryan Skinner (email)