Page 42: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Nov/Dec 2019)

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REGIONAL REPORT The Arctic

Source: Roar Lindefjeld and Bo B. Randulff, Equinor kets some 20 million tons of iron ore annually, transported Finally, gas produced with carbon catch and storage will be from Kiruna in Sweden by the Ofoten railway. This vol- used to produce nonpolluting hydrogen. ume is expected to increase in the years to come. Policies and tools to promote economic development and

Narvik Port is now promoting the New Silk Road – a reduce poverty must take ecological limits and climate change new fast transport corridor both ways between China and into account and ensure an integrated approach to different

North America. The backbone of this transport corridor kinds of activities and environmental pressures. Ensuring sus- is a “nonstop” container block train between Xi-an, China tainable use is a priority for Norway and vital for ocean-based and Kouvola, Finland with a total travel time down to nine activities in Norway and the world as a whole. Growth in the days. The other parts of this route are made up by rail Kou- blue economy may include both steps to improve the envi- vola - Narvik and sea transport Narvik - North America. ronmental performance of existing industries – by deploying new technologies – and the development of new ocean-based

The environment industries that have less environmental impact.

The world, and in particular the younger generation, is Norway’s oil and gas production is a world leader in calling for efforts to eliminate climate threats. Few dispute clean production and is continuously improved by new the necessity of this. technologies, such as carbon capture and storage, renew-

Many even require to discontinue oil and gas produc- able energy sources and electri? cation based on renewable tion. In our mind time has not come for that yet. We have energy production.

to ? ght the threats by technology rather than passivity. A As an example of environmental issues in the North, stop now would reduce economic growth and our capac- government this summer reported that they are evaluat- ity to lift people out of poverty and secure safety, welfare ing to establish offshore wind power outside Hammerfest and democracy for the people of the world. Gas is the key with a view to supply clean energy for the operation of the to a better environment. In the ? rst phase, gas should re- Hammerfest LNG plant at Melkøya. The Port of Ham- place coal which will reduce pollution by 50%. In the next merfest is also active in this work by establishing shore-to- phase, ? exible use of gas should be used to ? ll the gap be- ship power supply systems and alternative energy sources tween renewable energy sources and the energy demand. for ship propulsion purposes.

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