Norway's legislation on oil security

According to article 11 RPP, the emergency provisions of the RPP are triggered when there exists a national or international supply deficit. In accordance with the 2011 Act on Business and Industry Preparedness the ministry responsible for a commercial sector may activate several measures to mitigate supply challenges or consequences of supply challenges. The legislation can only be used if it is considered impossible to achieve the same outcome through voluntary or commercial cooperation between businesses/industries and the authorities.

General

In accordance with APP article 1, The Norwegian King in Council may require that importers or producers of petroleum products or biofuels may establish and maintain stocks of such products. Moreover, article 1 APP specifies that the King can enact regulations concerning the addressees of the country’s stockholding obligations (article 1(a) APP), the products which are to be stocked (article 1(b) APP), the quantity of products to be stocked (art. 1(c) APP), how stocked quantities may be used (article 1(d) APP), and the King may stipulate detailed rules concerning reporting requirements (article 1(e) APP). Such specific and permanent provisions are enacted in the RPP.

Storage Agency

Norway imposes stockholding obligations on oil importers and oil producers (article 2 RPP) who imported quantities of oil equal to or more than 10 000 Sm³ during preceding year (or who are expected to import/produce such quantities in the coming year). When determining whether an entity is subject to a stockholding obligation, the Ministry is entitled to combine quantities from different entities that form part of the same company or group of companies (article 2 RPP). Unless otherwise specified, emergency stocks may be comprised of gasoline, heavy fuels or auto diesel, diesel for construction purposes, light heating oil, kerosene, jet A1, marine distillates (article 3 RPP).

Storage Quantity

According to article 4 RPP, the quantity of emergency stocks shall “correspond to 20 days of consumption of the total amount of products comprised by the compulsory stockholding obligation [that] the enterprise in question has sold or consumed in the preceding...year”. Addressees of the stockholding obligation that have not imported or produced products “comprised by the compulsory stockholding obligation in the preceding year, are obliged to maintain stocks corresponding to 20 days of [that] consumption” which addressees are expected to produce or import in the current year. (article 4 RPP).

Availability of stocks

Norwegian primary legislation does not provide for specific criteria concerning the availability of emergency stocks. However, the RPP does stipulate that a maximum of 40% of emergency stocks may consist of crude oil, condensate, or semi-finished products (article 6 RPP). Further, stocks may be stored by others on behalf of an addressee of the stockholding obligation (article 8 RPP) provided that the volumes stored by others can be released with a fixed period (which the RPP does not specify) in case of emergency.

Storage Locations

Norwegian primary legislation does not specify geographic storage locations in Norway. However, by default, stocks are to be stored in facilities (production sites, harbours, oil pipeline terminals, tankers) owned by the addressees of the stockholding obligation (art. 6 RPP) in Norway. Addressees of the stock holding obligation can apply for approval by the ministry to hold up to 20% of an addressee’s stockholding obligation stored abroad (article 9 RPP). In special circumstances, up to 75% of an addressee’s stockholding obligation may be granted by application for storage abroad. When determining whether to grant such an exception, the Norwegian authorities are required to consider the geographic proximity of such stocks, how they would be transported to Norway and the Norwegian market, the extent to which the products are adapted to the Norwegian marked and what kind of ownership controls the emergency stocks are subject to (article 9 RPP).

Sale of excess stocks

N/A

The ministries responsible for a value chain or part of a value chain is responsible for monitoring the supplies situation and to enforce emergency measures when necessary. The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy is responsible for oil production and transportation of domestically produced crude oil to refinery while the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries is responsible for the remaining value chain from refinery or point of import to the gas stations or other end points of delivery.

Domestic 

Reporting duties

The businesses or industries under Norwegian stockholding obligations provide the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries with information concerning the quantity of the addressee’s imports, sales, current stocks etc. four times a year (article 10 RPP) through Statistics Norway. When submitting the respective information, the addressees of the stockholding obligation also need to confirm that they are in compliance with their stockholding obligation (article 10 RPP).

Enforcement

Article 2 APP provides that the Norwegian authorities may impose fines upon commercial actors for violating the terms of the APP (see also article 16 RPP). Fines may not exceed 10 million Norwegian Kroner. Article 2 APP authorises the ministry charged with overseeing the implementation of the APP to make more detailed provisions regarding sanctions related to the violation of the terms of the APP. Overall supervisory responsibility lies with the ministry.

Further, the RPP entitles the ministry to access facilities where emergency stocks are stored to determine that the stockholding commitment is being fulfilled (article 13 RPP).

International: The IEA

Norway is not required to maintain oil reserves. Nonetheless, Norway is obliged to submit information concerning its emergency measures to the IEA secretariat (article 32 IEP) on a continuous basis.