All posts by Turflinger

American LNG Exporters Turn to Europe

Energy

For years, U.S. gas companies looking to export liquefied natural gas dreamed of a booming Asia. Now, with demand there falling and the first shipment weeks away, Europe has emerged as an unlikely savior.

European gas production is down and countries there want to get more of the heating and power plant fuel from places other than Russia –- a major supplier, but one that’s brought plenty of headaches.

“It’s going to make a lot more sense for the U.S. gas to flow into the European market,” said Jason Bordoff, director of Columbia University’s center on global energy policy. “European energy security” comes from having “a diversity of supply,” he said.

Kongsberg Protector selected for General Dynamics Stryker

Defense / Security

General Dynamics Land Systems has selected Kongsberg’s Protector Remote Weapon station for their Stryker vehicles.

Kongsberg’s Protector Remote Weapon Station can be fitted to any platform, and used to remotely control light- and medium-caliber weapons. General Dynamics will use the system as the solution for the 30mm weapons integrated on their Stryker vehicles.

“We are very pleased that our PROTECTOR MCRWS has been selected as the solution for this Stryker brigade. The system is the result of several years of determined effort to develop a system with capabilities and performance required for these types of vehicles,” Kongsberg Protech Systems President Espen Henriksen said in a statement.

Stryker vehicles are eight-wheeled, armored combat vehicles used by the U.S. Army. The weapon system to be integrated consists of a weapon tower with electro-optical sights, which allow the system to be operated from inside the vehicle, adding protection to the operator.

Kongsberg has delivered over 17,000 Protector units to customers in 17 countries.

“This is a very important milestone for our newest innovation in this field, the Medium Caliber RWS, and we are honored to support US Army and General Dynamics Land Systems in this urgent operational requirement,” Kongsberg CEO and President Walter Qzam said.

Norway Wealth Fund Names CEO of Real Estate Group

Property / Real Estate

The world’s biggest wealth fund named Karsten Kallevig as chief executive officer of its real estate group.

Kallevig has served as chief investments officer for the group. He joined as head of property investments in 2010 and has since built a 159 billion-krone ($18 billion) portfolio.

The $840 billion fund in July created a specific group to oversee real estate as it targets more direct management of assets. It has so far bought real estate in places such as Times Square, the Champs Elysees and London’s Regent Street. The fund has a strategy to focus on 10 to 15 cities globally and is looking at expanding Asia.

Norges Bank Investment Management, which oversees the fund from within the central bank, held about 3 percent of its assets in real estate at the end of the third quarter. It aims to build that share to 5 percent.

Changes in the Norwegian Government

Government

Ms. Elisabeth Aspaker, Minister, has been charged with the responsibility for EEA and EU Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Vidar Helgesen, Minister, has become Minister of Climate and Environment. Ms. Sylvi Listhaug, Minister, has been charged with the responsibility for Immigration Affairs in the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, and Social Inclusion Affairs in the Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion.

Mr. Per Sandberg, Member of Parliament, has been appointed Minister of Fisheries.  Ms. Anniken Hauglie has been appointed Minister of Labour and Social Affairs. Ms. Linda Cathrine Hofstad Helleland, Member of Parliament, has been appointed Minister of Culture. Mr. Jon Georg Dale, State Secretary, has been appointed Minister of Agriculture and Food.

At the same time, Ministers Thorhild Widvey, Tine Sundtoft and Robert Eriksson have been honourably discharged from their offices.

The responsibility as chief of staff at the Office of the Prime Minister will no longer be held by a minister. State Secretary Julie Brodtkorb has taken over this responsibility. Elisabeth Aspaker has also been appointed Norwegian member of the Nordic Council of Ministers, responsible for the coordination of Nordic cooperation affairs.

The changes are active as of 13.00 today, 16 December 2015. It is intended that during the first quarter of 2016, the Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion will have its name changed to the Ministry of Children and Equality.

The Government represents the Conservative Party (C) and the Progress Party (PrP):

Prime Minister
Ms. Erna Solberg (C)

Minister of Finance
Ms. Siv Jensen (PrP)

Minister of Local Government and Modernisation
Mr.Jan Tore Sanner (C)

Minister of Transport and Communication
Mr. Ketil Solvik-Olsen (PrP)

Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Børge Brende (C)

Minister of EEA and EU Affairs,
also minister of Nordic cooperation affairs
Ms. Elisabeth Aspaker (C)

Minister of Trade and Industry
Ms. Monica Mæland (C)

Minister of Climate and Environment
Mr. Vidar Helgesen (C)

Minister of Children and Equality
Ms. Solveig Horne (PrP)

Minister of Health and Care Services
Mr. Bent Høie (C)

Minister of Justice and Public Security
Mr. Anders Anundsen (PrP)

Minister of Petroleum and Energy
Mr. Tord Lien (PrP)

Minister of Defence
Ms. Ine Eriksen Søreide (C)

Minister of Immigration and Integration
Ms. Sylvi Listhaug (PrP)

Minister of Education and Research
Mr. Torbjørn Røe Isaksen (C)

Minister of Fisheries
Mr. Per Sandberg (PrP)

Minister of Labour and Social Affairs
Ms. Anniken Hauglie (C)

Minister of Culture
Ms. Linda Cathrine Hofstad Helleland (C)

Minister of Agriculture and Food
Mr. Jon Georg Dale (PrP)

Manpower: Derfor er det grunn til optimisme i arbeidsmarkedet

Human Resources

I samtlige regioner i landet varsler flertallet av arbeidsgivere at de vil øke antallet ansatte i løpet av neste kvartal. Men det er likevel flere grunner til ikke å juble for høyt.

– Det er positivt for landet at flere arbeidsgivere sier de heller vil oppbemanne enn nedbemanne, sier Maalfrid Brath, konsernsjef i ManpowerGroup.

Arbeidsløsheten har steget gradvis de siste månedene og nådde i november 4,6 prosent, men nå er det altså optimisme å spore. Fire ganger i året spør ManpowerGroup norske arbeisgivere om hvilke forventninger de har til det neste kvartalet, om de forventer flere ansatte, færre ansatte eller om de ikke ser for seg noen endring.

Halliburton, Baker Hughes Extend Merger Deadline to April

Energy

Halliburton and Baker Hughes said Tuesday that they expect their timing agreement with the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) will expire without reaching a settlement or the DOJ initiating litigation at this time to block their pending transaction.

The DOJ has informed the companies that it does not believe that the remedies offered to date are sufficient to address the DOJ’s concerns, but acknowledged that they would assess further proposals and look forward to continued cooperation from the parties in their continuing investigation.

Over the last year, Halliburton and Baker Hughes have engaged in extensive and productive discussions with the DOJ regarding Halliburton’s acquisition of Baker Hughes. The parties have responded to numerous DOJ requests for information, producing millions of pages of documents, providing numerous written submissions in response to specific questions, and participating in multiple meetings with the DOJ.

As previously announced, early in the process, Halliburton proposed to the DOJ a substantial divestiture package that would facilitate the entry of new competition in markets in which products and services are being divested. Both companies strongly believe that the divestiture package, which recently was significantly enhanced to address the DOJ’s specific competitive concerns, is more than sufficient to address concerns raised by competition authorities, including the DOJ.

The companies intend to continue their discussions with the DOJ, and remain focused on completing the transaction as early as possible in 2016, but there is no guarantee that an agreement with the DOJ or other competition authorities will be reached.

In that regard, Halliburton and Baker Hughes have also agreed to extend the time period for closing the transaction to no later than April 30, 2016, as permitted under the merger agreement, though the parties would proceed with closing prior to such date if all relevant competition approvals have been obtained. As previously announced, the boards of directors of both Halliburton and Baker Hughes unanimously approved the Merger Agreement and the stockholders of each company overwhelmingly approved the transaction.

Halliburton and Baker Hughes are also continuing to work constructively to resolve any remaining issues with the European Commission and all other competition enforcement authorities that have expressed an interest in the proposed transaction. The pending acquisition has received regulatory clearances in Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Kazakhstan, South Africa, and Turkey.

Uber-sjåfør frifunnet i Oslo tingrett

Automobile / Transport

En Uber-sjåfør er i Oslo frifunnet for å ha kjørt det politiet omtalte som pirattaxi.

Oslo tingrett mener tjenestens mobilapplikasjon, som tilbyr persontransport mot vederlag, ikke er rettet mot publikum på offentlig sted, melder Aftenposten.

Mannen ble stoppet i oktober, fikk 9.600 kroner i bot, men godtok ikke forelegget, og dermed ble det rettssak. Dommen falt denne uken og mannen ble frifunnet, og slipper derfor både å betale det forenklede forelegget og sakskostnader på 5.000 kroner.

Det omstridte punktet i saken er Yrkestransportlovens paragraf 4:

«Den som mot vederlag vil drive nasjonal eller internasjonal persontransport med motorvogn, må ha løyve. Det same gjeld den som utfører persontransport mot vederlag på liknande måte som drosje når tilbud om transport vert retta til ålmenta på offentlig plass.»

Sjåføren vedgikk at han kjørte passasjerer i sin privatbil mot vederlag uten løyve, men mente han ved å gjøre dette som Uber-sjåfør ikke brøt den aktuelle paragrafen.

Oslo tingrett mener ifølge dommen at det å ta kjøreoppdrag via Uber-appen ikke er det samme som å tilby «transport til allmennheten på offentlig sted». Retten skriver også i dommen at tjenesten UberPop ikke nødvendigvis er lovlig selv om sjåføren ble frifunnet.

Lake Erie Wind Farm to be Built by Norwegian Fred.Olsen Renewables

Energy

Toledo, Ohio — A European wind developer will take the lead on building a wind farm project in Lake Erie that’s designed to show the potential for alternative energy along the Ohio shoreline.

Backers say the $120 million pilot project is expected to be up and running in 2018.

Lake Erie Energy Development Corp. announced Norwegian company Fred.Olsen Renewables will build the six wind turbines about seven to 10 miles from the edge of downtown Cleveland.

The deal brings an experienced developer to the project and gives it more credibility as they seek additional investors, said Lorry Wagner, president of the Lake Erie Energy Development group.

“Instead of them saying ‘Who are you?’ they’ll now say, ‘We know who you are,’ ” Wagner said.

Fred.Olsen Renewables has wind farms operating or in development in Sweden, Norway, Scotland and the United Kingdom. It’s also involved in building wind turbines off the coast of Rhode Island, the nation’s first off-shore wind farm.

The company, based in Oslo, Norway, has interest in the future of wind power throughout the Great Lakes region, Wagner said.

Post of US Ambassador to Norway Needs Filling

Government

Vital economic, diplomatic ties are harmed by yearslong failure to name envoy.

Everyone needs friends — people, organizations and, yes, nations. So why is the U.S. so recklessly harming its relationship with its long-term ally, the Kingdom of Norway?

For almost two and a half years, there has been no U.S. ambassador to Norway. This is an insult to Norwegians and destructive to America’s self-interest.

It matters a lot — because I know from my service as ambassador to Norway that our 21st-century relationship is about much more than krumkake and rosemaling. Norway is one of the world’s largest energy exporters and works closely with the U.S. on economic and environmental issues in the Arctic. Norway plays a role in our relations with its neighbor, a newly assertive and troubling Russia. Norway and the U.S. frequently team up on critical peace-building efforts in the Middle East, Colombia and Sri Lanka. It is an active player in NATO and the U.N., and a generous giver to important international aid projects. And that is only a partial list of what’s at stake.

All of our diplomatic and military connections are weakened without an ambassador, whose role is not sipping champagne at posh diplomatic dinners. The ambassador is our nation’s chief connection to the Norwegian government and people, and is the American solely accountable for building the bilateral relationship. A key role is to listen to Norwegians and their concerns and show respect.

However inaccurate it may be, the absence of an ambassador to Norway sends the unfortunate message that we do not care all that much.

Blame for this situation is deep, wide and bipartisan. To replace its able prior ambassador Barry White, the Obama administration senselessly nominated businessman George Tsunis, who managed in his Senate hearing to demonstrate complete ignorance of Norway and directly insult about 20 percent of Norwegian voters plus half of its ministers. Tsunis lacked the grace to abandon his appointment despite overwhelming bipartisan opposition (including most of the Minnesota congressional delegation), and the administration lacked the courage to push him out.

After an entire year, Tsunis finally threw in the towel and the administration nominated a distinguished and well-qualified Minnesota attorney and community leader in Sam Heins. Now Senate Republicans are doing the damage, with some of them having held the Heins nomination from a floor vote to gain leverage in completely unrelated disputes with the administration.

There is a real danger that if Heins is not confirmed right now, there may well not be an ambassador for another year and a half, given the rhythms of a presidential election year and transition. Four years with no ambassador to Norway? This is really the best our nation can do?

On behalf of the American people, I want to apologize to the people of Norway and its government, and assure them that although our politicians are failing our ties right now, we do deeply value your friendship and recognize Norway as a valuable ally in a troubled world.

To Senate Republicans and the Obama administration: Get the Heins nomination moving immediately, before the upcoming recess. If really necessary, find some other post to hold hostage to your political machinations. The price of this hold is just too high. Our friends in Norway deserve better. Our important national interests deserve better, too.

 Ben Whitney was the U.S. ambassador to Norway from 2005 to 2009.

Mæland ber om utredning av handelsavtale mellom USA og EU

Trade

En transatlantisk handelsavtale kan få konsekvenser for Norge. Nå vil næringsminister Monica Mæland vite hvordan vi bør forholde oss til dette.

Arbeidet med handelsavtalen mellom USA og EU har foregått i flere år. Dersom avtalen mellom Norges to største handelspartnere blir en realitet vil det få konsekvenser for Norge, særlig om avtalen innebærer amerikansk olje på billigsalg.

– Norske bedrifter, organisasjoner og politikere har etterlyst informasjon om hva en handelsavtale mellom EU og USA vil bety for Norge.

– Derfor ber regjeringen nå om en uavhengig rapport om hvilke konsekvenser disse forhandlingene kan få. Dette blir en krevende utredning, men jeg er sikker på at vi vil ende opp med et faglig solid og viktig arbeid, sier næringsminister Monica Mæland i en pressemelding lørdag ettermiddag.

Departementet utlyser nå en åpen konkurranse om utredningen, som etter planen skal leveres til Mæland i september 2016.

Viktig debatt

– Vi trenger en grundig diskusjon om hva en avtale kan innebære for Norge, og om hvordan vi skal følge den opp. Fakta må styre debatten. Vi håper utredningen vil bidra dette, sier Mæland.

Selv om Norge ikke er en del av avtalen vil utfallet ha mye å si for norske eksportnæring, og Mæland ønsker at rapporten skal vurdere de ulike konsekvensene for norske næringsinteresser, og hvilke valg vi har i forbindelse med EØS-avtalen.

Stor motstand

TTIP har lenge vært et sårt tema flere steder i Europa, og både i Nederland, Irland, Spania og Tyskland har det vært store demonstrasjoner mot handelsavtalen.

Årsaken er at mange frykter jobbene deres kan bli truet og lønningene synke dersom arbeidere får muligheten til å bevege seg fritt mellom de to områdene.

I fjor uttalte USAs president Barack Obama at han var svært positiv til TTIP, og håpet at andre også ville se mulighetene en slik avtale ville åpne.

Oppdragsbeskrivelsen fra Nærings- og fiskeridepartementet er laget i samarbeid med Landbruks- og matdepartementet, Utenriksdepartementet og Finansdepartementet. Konkurransen er utlyst på Doffin og EUs database for anskaffelser (TED).