The emissions of CO2 and nitrogen oxides from the oil industry will increase dramatically in the years to come. As a result, Norway may not meet its requirement in the Kyoto agreement.

Norway's emissions increased greatly compared to last year. New numbers indicate that it will become even worse in the years to come. The reason is increased sale of gas to Great Britain and the Continent.

The increases will make it difficult to reduce the emissions to the level Norway is required to according to the Kyoto agreement. The goal is to get the Norwegian CO2 emissions to the level of the 1990s.

The oil industry is responsible for almost one third of the CO2 emission and about one fourth of the nitrogen oxides.

New numbers indicate that the CO2 emissions from the oil and gas installations alone in the period 2004 and 2006 will increase with 2.1 million ton. The new calculations were presented in a letter from the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy to the Ministry of the Environment. The numbers are calculated in connection with the work of the revised national budget which will be presented May 11.

Frederic Hauge, head of the environmental organization Bellona, said that Norway will not meet its environmental requirement with the increase from the oil industry. Hauge said that he wants a method were the CO2 gas is used to increase the extraction of oil. Statoil has researched this method, but claims it is too expensive.

Via Nettavisen News in English. Photo by Statoil.

Freedom and Politics [14:56]