All posts by Margrethe Harboe

A Transatlantic Investment in Norway’s Energy Future

A Transatlantic Investment in Norway’s Energy Future

Baker Hughes’ recent inauguration of a new subsea facility outside Stavanger drew praise from Norwegian officials and underscored the enduring value of transatlantic industrial cooperation.

Tom Huuse, Baker Hughes' Managing Director for Norway, tours the new Dusavik facility with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Energy Minister Terje Aasland. Photo: Baker Hughes

When Baker Hughes inaugurated its new Subsea Services Center of Excellence and manufacturing facility in Dusavik, outside Stavanger, on April 29, it did more than cut a ribbon. The Houston-headquartered company made a statement – about the vitality of transatlantic industrial cooperation, the continued importance of the Norwegian Continental Shelf, and the long-term investments required to bolster European energy security.

The purpose-built facility spans 49,000 square meters. Its 12,000-square-meter workshop features testing bays capable of replicating the most demanding subsea conditions on Earth. Powered entirely by renewable energy, the plant will manufacture advanced subsea equipment and control systems. It will also serve as a hub for maintenance, repair, well intervention, and decommissioning across the North Sea.

Amerino Gatti, Baker Hughes’ Executive Vice President of Oilfield Services and Equipment, frames the investment in strategic terms. “The North Sea continues to play an indispensable role in Europe’s energy security,” and Norway, he adds, “offers a shining example of how countries can leverage smart policy and innovative technology to balance oil and gas development with the ongoing need to decarbonize.”

Photo: Baker Hughes

For Tom Huuse, Managing Director for Baker Hughes in Norway, the new facility testifies to both the company’s long Norwegian history and its continued focus on staying close to customers and local communities.

"Baker Hughes has been supporting our customers operating on the Norwegian continental shelf for more than 50 years. Opening this facility is more than a milestone for our business. It demonstrates a further long-term commitment to our customers, local business, employees and society, and we will continue to support developing the Norwegian continental shelf further. As we execute our strategy to make energy safer, cleaner, and more efficient for people and the planet, sites like this ensure we stay close to our customers and close to the communities we serve. I’m proud of our team in Norway and excited for the impact this site will have both locally and globally.”

Photo: Baker Hughes
Baker-15
Photo: Baker Hughes

After the inauguration, State Secretary Snorre Erichsen Skjevrak highlighted how the facility testified to the critical link between a robust supply industry and Norway’s role as a reliable European energy provider. “It’s great to see large industry players, such as Baker Hughes, making a long-term commitment to Norway.”

Less than a week later, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Energy Minister Terje Aasland fittingly chose the facility as the venue for a meeting with senior industry leaders. “I think one can say that petroleum activity has never meant more for so many people in Norway than it does right now,” Støre told the room. In discussions with European leaders, the Prime Minister added, the importance of Norwegian energy was repeatedly stressed, with Norwegian gas currently accounting for roughly 30% of EU consumption. Accordingly, the occasion was also used to announce Norway’s 2026 TFO licensing round, opening 70 new blocks for exploration.

The visit also gave Baker Hughes’ Norway team a chance to share their perspectives with the Prime Minister and Energy Minister. “It’s gratifying that Baker Hughes’ expert technicians are receiving the national recognition they deserve,” notes Stuart Testar, Baker Hughes’ Director of Global Government Affairs. “Their efforts directly support Norway’s economy, the wellbeing of its people – and ultimately Europe’s energy security during these turbulent times.”

For AmCham Norway, Baker Hughes’ Dusavik facility is a testament to the investment, innovation, and skilled jobs the transatlantic business community brings to Norway. “Baker Hughes’ new facility is transatlantic business at its best,” concludes AmCham Norway Managing Director Jason Turflinger. “Our member companies don’t just operate in Norway. They put down roots, support local communities, and power the industries Norway depends on.”

KPMG integrates Claude across its core business and workforce

KPMG—one of the world’s largest professional services firms for audit, tax, legal, and advisory services across 138 countries and territories—has announced a global alliance with Anthropic to bring Claude into the heart of its business.

As part of this alliance, KPMG is embedding Claude inside Digital Gateway, the software KPMG’s people and clients use to do the actual work—starting with new tools for tax and legal clients. And every one of KPMG’s 276,000+ employees globally will gain access to Claude.

Anthropic is also naming KPMG a preferred partner for private equity, and the two companies will build new Claude-powered products together for PE portfolio companies.

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U.S. Chamber of Commerce – B20 USA: Strengthening Global Partnerships, Unlocking Investment, Driving Growth At Home

In April, Washington becomes the epicenter of the global economy. Finance ministers, central bankers, and CEOs from the world’s largest economies converge for the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings to debate policies for growth, trade, and competitiveness.

These are critical platforms, especially at a time of slowing global growth and strained economic relationships. Yet they also preview a more specialized opportunity for businesses this year: a unique opportunity to step forward and lead.

That opportunity stems from America’s presidency of the G20 and its business counterpart the B20, which comes at a pivotal moment. Not only is it America’s 250th year, but this is a high-stakes time to recenter our economic and commercial ties with the world—to build a foundation for lasting American prosperity.

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2026-2027 AmCham Mentorship Program Kickoff

AmCham Mentorship Program Kickoff 2026-2027: Laying the Foundation for Inspired Leadership Development

The 2026-2027 edition of the AmCham Mentorship Program got off to an inspiring start at BI Norwegian Business School. Spanning 16 industries, this year’s cohort brings together 88 mentors and mentees from 39 Patron member companies and partner organizations.

The 2026 kickoff keynote was delivered by BI Professor Émilie Lapointe, who also serves as the Associate Dean for BI’s Master’s Program in Leadership and Organizational Psychology and co-leads the Personal Development Program for BI’s Executive MBA. Drawing on both research and practice, Lapointe offered participants actionable, evidence-based insights into how to get the most out of their mentorship relationships.

Photo: BI Norwegian Business School

Mentorship isn't a spectator sport (...) you get out of it exactly what you bring to it.”

Highlighting the importance of trust, vulnerability, and responsibility, Lapointe explored how these relationships can fuel growth and support career development. Her message was clear; mentorship creates value for mentors, mentees, and organizations alike – but only when both sides truly commit to the relationship. “Mentorship isn’t a spectator sport,” she concluded. “You get out of it exactly what you bring to it.”

Lapointe was followed by Kristian Hvilen, Managing Director at Rud Pedersen Public Affairs. Hvilen, who has served as a mentor in several editions of the AmCham Mentorship Program, gave participants practical advice for building strong mentoring relationships. He emphasized the importance of psychological safety, the value of being a “critical friend,” and the need for mentors to be flexible, adapting to their mentees’ needs.

Photo: BI Norwegian Business School
Photo: BI Norwegian Business School

Netti Fuglesang, Business Partner at Dale Carnegie Training, then offered tips from a mentee perspective. She encouraged participants to step outside their comfort zones, reminding them that doing so can spark real transformation and development. She also highlighted the importance of goal setting, intentionality, and taking a holistic view of growth.

Together, Lapointe, Hvilen, and Fuglesang gave participants a strong point of departure for our nine-month program. After their remarks, this year’s 44 mentor-mentee pairings were revealed, giving each pair the chance to lay the groundwork for the months ahead.

“We know leadership development doesn’t happen by accident,” concluded AmCham Mentorship Program Lead Tyler Barrott.

“Deeply human and with a cross-industry focus, our mentorship program gives Patron-level member company mentors and mentees a structured, purposeful environment for leadership development, as well as personal and professional growth.”

About the AmCham Mentorship Program

The AmCham Mentorship Program offers participating Patron-level member companies a unique and exclusive arena for leadership development. Over nine months, the program prepares mentees for leadership roles in international companies and provides mentors with valuable cross-industry insights, while offering both groups evidence-based tools for inspired leadership.

This year’s cohort – made up of 88 participants from 39 organizations – spans 16 industries. Mentor-mentee pairings are tailored, considering each participants’ industry, background, and professional development goals.

Photo: BI Norwegian Business School

Participating Companies 2026-2027:

Past Mentorship Program Events

Ny rapport fra DNV: Hydrogen klart for oppskalering, men krever politisk handling

En ny rapport fra DNV viser at hydrogen fortsatt vil spille en viktig rolle i den globale energiomstillingen, men at utviklingen går saktere enn forventet. DNV anslår at fornybart hydrogen, lav-karbon hydrogen og derivater vil bidra til å kutte mer enn 2000 millioner tonn CO₂-utslipp årlig i 2060. For å realisere dette må pilotprosjekter skaleres til industriell drift, noe som krever tydeligere politiske rammer.

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Citi sees continued oil market volatility tied to Iran conflict

(Bloomberg) – Oil prices will continue to fluctuate wildly until it’s clear whether Iran and President Donald Trump will strike an agreement to end the war, according to Citigroup Inc.’s global head of commodities research.

“It’s very difficult to predict” if Iran is going to do a deal, Citigroup’s Max Layton said Thursday. “In that environment where you basically don’t know if there’s going to be a deal or not—very difficult to predict with this new leadership in Iran—you know you’re going to be subject to news and you’re going to be moving around like crazy.”

Oil trading this week underscored Layton’s point. Brent has climbed as high as $115.30 a barrel and tumbled to about $96 as traders vacillated between the prospects for peace or renewed hostilities. Crude fell Thursday for a third consecutive day, with both Brent and WTI below $100 amid new diplomatic efforts to end the war and reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz.

The move lower is on some “hope that we’ll talk about a deal,” Layton said.

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Equinor starts Eirin gas production, boosting North Sea exports to Europe

(WO) – Equinor has started production from the Eirin field in the North Sea, bringing new gas volumes online for export to Europe through existing infrastructure at Gina Krog and Sleipner A.

The subsea tieback development is expected to recover about 27.6 MMboe, mostly gas, and was completed in roughly three years from project establishment to startup. Equinor said the project was accelerated as Norwegian gas took on greater importance for European supply following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Eirin was originally discovered in 1978 but had previously been considered uneconomic. The field has now been developed as a subsea facility tied back to the Gina Krog platform, with gas exported through the Sleipner system, one of Norway’s key hubs for gas deliveries to Europe.

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Norway launches APA 2026 licensing round, adds 70 exploration blocks

(WO) – Norway has launched its APA 2026 licensing round, adding 70 new exploration blocks across the North Sea, Norwegian Sea and Barents Sea as it continues to expand access to acreage on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS).

The Awards in Predefined Areas (APA) round covers the most mature exploration regions offshore Norway and is intended to provide companies with predictable access to prospective acreage in established petroleum provinces.

The Ministry of Energy said the newly added blocks are distributed across all three offshore regions and include acreage previously nominated by companies for the planned 26th licensing round. As a result, a 26th licensing round will not be held in 2026.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said Norway’s oil and gas sector remains important both domestically and for Europe. “Today, the Government is announcing new exploration acreage in APA in order to further develop the petroleum sector,” he said, adding that continued activity will help support jobs, long-term value creation and Europe’s energy security.

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Norge slutter seg til Pax Silica-initiativet

 

Norge blir med i det amerikanske initiativet Pax Silica, som skal styrke samarbeidet om å sikre robuste og pålitelige forsyningskjeder for ny teknologi.

– Det er viktig for Norge å samarbeide med USA og andre globale ledere innen ny KI-teknologi. En av hovedprioriteringene til regjeringen er å bidra til at norsk industri og næringsliv skal ha god markedsadgang, og dette initiativet kan gi norske selskaper bedre tilgang til avanserte teknologiske verdikjeder, sier næringsminister Cecilie Myrseth.

Det USA-ledede initiativet ble lansert i 2025, og har som mål å bygge sikre forsyningskjeder for kunstig intelligens (KI), halvledere og kritiske råmaterialer. Det skal også fremme innovasjon og beskytte sensitiv teknologi.

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