All posts by Margrethe Harboe

$1.8-billion PPF project approved to revive previously produced fields at Ekofisk

Vår Energi and its license partners, led by operator ConocoPhillips, have taken a final investment decision (FID) on the Previously Produced Fields (PPF) Project in the Greater Ekofisk Area, advancing a large-scale subsea redevelopment aimed at extending production life on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.

The project targets the redevelopment of three gas-condensate fields—Albuskjell, Vest Ekofisk and Tommeliten Gamma—that were shut in during the late 1990s following infrastructure decommissioning and capacity constraints at the Ekofisk Complex. With additional processing capacity expected to become available later this decade, the partners are moving forward with a new subsea tieback solution.

Total gross capital investment for the PPF Project is estimated at approximately USD 1.8 billion, including about USD 0.7 billion net to Vår Energi. The redevelopment is expected to deliver 55 MMboe net 2P reserves to Vår Energi, while total recoverable resources across the licenses are estimated at 90–120 MMboe.

The development concept includes 11 production wells and four new subsea templates, all tied back to the Ekofisk Complex via a shared multiphase pipeline. First production is planned for Q4 2028, adding new high-value barrels while leveraging existing infrastructure.

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US Air Force places $240m Lot 2 order for Kongsberg Joint Strike Missiles

The US Air Force (USAF) has awarded Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace a $240 million contract for Lot 2 production of its air-launched Joint Strike Missile (JSM).

“This contract provides for the purchase of all-up rounds with containers, test hardware, and support items,” according to a contract notification dated 15 December.

Being acquired for internal carriage by Lockheed Martin F-35As, the more than 150nm (277km)-range JSM will provide the USAF with a stand-off strike weapon suitable for anti-ship and land-attack tasks.

To be performed in Norway, production work is due to run until November 2028. The number of weapons to be supplied via the Lot 2 order has not been disclosed.

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Statsministerens presentasjon av Regjeringens plan for Norge 2025-2029

– Når verden skifter så raskt som vi har sett, må politikken også kunne skifte gir. Derfor fornyer vi nå måten regjeringen og departementene arbeider på. For det første, nå blir det større prosjekter og færre enkelttiltak, sa statsminister Jonas Gahr Støre.

God morgen – og velkommen til pressekonferanse!

Stortingsvalget 8. september ga Arbeiderpartiet fornyet tillit – og Arbeiderparti-regjeringen fortsetter.

Denne høsten har fem partier – for første gang – kommet til enighet om statsbudsjettet, et budsjett som vedtas i disse dager.

Nå ser vi fremover:

Denne dagen handler det ikke om hva vi har fått til – det handler om hva vi skal gjøre videre.

I dag legger jeg frem Arbeiderparti-regjeringens viktigste politiske prioriteringer for denne stortingsperioden.

Vi samler våre prioriteringer i det vi har kalt «Regjeringens plan for Norge».

For dette er ikke en tradisjonell regjeringsplattform.

Dette er starten på en ny måte å styre landet på.

Og før vi åpner opp planen: la meg å gi dere to grunner til at vi forandrer på noe så grunnleggende som arbeidsmåten i regjeringen og departementene.

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KSAT signs launch contract for Hyper

KSAT is set to bring their orbiting ground stations to space, a key step toward Hyper’s in-orbit network.

KSAT has officially signed a contract for launch with SpaceX, securing the ride to orbit for the first satellites of Hyper.

The mission is targeting launch in late 2027, marking a major milestone in the project’s journey from design to space.

Hyper brings KSAT’s ground-station capability into orbit, extending the reach of the KSAT network even further. By deploying loops of high-performance relay satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Hyper will enable continuous, low-latency data delivery across the globe. This orbital layer augments KSAT’s existing global network and ensures customers receive the connectivity they need, exactly when and where they need it, unlocking new possibilities for real-time operations, mission resilience, and data-driven decision-making.

“This is a defining step for us,” says Edvard Foss, General Manager for Hyper. “Securing this first launch brings Hyper one step closer to space, and one step closer to delivering even lower latencies for our customers. This strengthens our commitment to building a world-leading in-orbit relay capability.”

View article.

Hvorfor åpner ikke flere amerikanske fastfoodkjeder i Norge?

Taco Bell har åpnet i Stockholm. Hva holder kjedene unna Norge?

Hver gang jeg krysser grensen undrer jeg på noe.

Hvorfor er det så mange KFC-restauranter her, men ingen i Norge? Og snart kommer Taco Bell også.

En butikkfasade med et flagg
KFC har mange avdelinger i Sverige, men absolutt ingen i Norge.

Jeg har derfor startet en etterforskning: Hvorfor åpner ikke flere amerikanske fastfoodkjeder i Norge?

De «hellige» tollavgiftene
Er det ikke fascinerende at du kan spise den samme Big Mac’en i Trondheim og i Barcelona?

Selv om den smaker nøyaktig likt, kjøpes ingrediensene fra helt forskjellige steder. Prisene på disse varene varierer også betydelig.

For å finne ut hvor dyrt det er å importere ingrediensene til Norge, tok jeg kontakt med Landbruks- og matdepartementet.

De forklarer til NRK at råvarer som kjøtt og meierivarer har høyere tollsatser i Norge enn i mange andre land, og at norske råvarepriser kan være dyrere enn andre land.

Les mer.

U.S. Must Lead WTO Reform to Protect American Business

Ambassador Joseph Barloon’s confirmation as U.S. Ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO) is welcome news for American businesses and workers. As a participant in September’s WTO Public Forum in Geneva, it was evident in our meetings that other governments were awaiting his arrival as a demonstration of U.S. commitment. That moment has arrived, and it’s an opportunity the U.S. mission and Barloon’s boss—U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer—should seize.

The WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) slated for next March may sound distant, but as one senior mission representative in Geneva noted, it might as well be “next week.” By design, the consensus-based WTO moves deliberately; if it is to deliver outcomes that serve Americans, the groundwork must begin now by setting priorities, building coalitions, and preparing proposals.

Two things are essential to success. First, the United States must show up—and lead. U.S. companies of every size depend on the WTO’s predictable, enforceable rules. Those rules prohibit discrimination against American businesses, bar disguised barriers to trade, and keep overseas markets much more open to U.S. exports than they were in the pre-WTO era. U.S. businesses would be much worse off without them.

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Equinor to drill 26 exploration and appraisal wells offshore Norway in 2026

(Bloomberg) – Equinor ASA will drill about 26 wildcat and appraisal wells off the coast of Norway in 2026, mostly in the country’s North Sea, as the company looks to spend $6 billion a year over the next ten years to maintain the flow of oil and gas to Europe.

Norway’s biggest oil and gas company will drill about 20 exploration and appraisal wells in the North Sea, and 3 each in the Barents and Norwegian Seas, according to Jez Averty, a senior vice president for Equinor’s exploration and production unit. The pace of drilling will be similar in 2027, he said.

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AmCham Thanksgiving Charity Dinner 2025

AmCham Thanksgiving Charity Dinner 2025

AmCham Norway welcomed members, partners, and friends to the majestic Hotel Bristol for our annual Thanksgiving Charity Dinner. The evening brought together representatives from Norway’s international business community to celebrate transatlantic friendship, express gratitude, and support a meaningful cause.

Paired with the traditional Thanksgiving meal were California wines Bonterra Estate Collection Chardonnay 2022 and IRONY Pinot Noir 2023. The atmosphere was lively – a fitting setting for fellowship, gratitude, and giving.

This year’s event was generously supported by 3M, KPMG, and MSD, whose commitment helped make the evening possible.

Giving Thanks, Giving Hope

Maria Greenberg Bergheim, Secretary General at UNICEF Norway, delivered a moving, firsthand account from the field, painting a stark picture of life for children in war-torn regions. Generators are powering hospitals and water pumps, and efforts are continuously underway to help the evacuated return to safe and stable lives, including children who have been forcibly removed from Ukraine.

Bergheim expressed that “your trust means the world to us – but even more to the children who rely on our help. Together, we can make a difference for those who need it the most.” She went on to acknowledge that “in challenges too big for governments or NGOs alone, the private sector is essential. Investing in children is not just charity – it is the smartest long-term investment societies and economies can make.”

L-R: Hans Petter Strifeldt (MSD), Elisabeth Næss (MSD), Maria Greenberg Bergheim (UNICEF), Ketil Nordengen (3M), Trade Minister Cecilie Myrseth, Rune Skjelvan (KPMG), US Embassy Chargé d'Affaires Eric Meyer, Charlie Lea (KPMG), Jason Turflinger (AmCham Norway)

Minister of Trade & Industry Cecilie Myrseth, a returning guest, addressed the audience with warmth and humor, describing the evening as “the perfect mix of diplomacy, business and gravy!”

She spoke of the deep historical ties between Norway and the United States, the bicentennial anniversary of emigration from Norway to the US, and the continued strength of transatlantic partnership in trade, investment, and innovation. 

US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Eric Meyer extended thanks to AmCham, sponsors, donors, and attendees, noting that in an uncertain world, “our alliance is not just ceremonial, it is essential.” He emphasized the two nations’ shared achievements and commitment to a prosperous, secure future rooted in collective strength. 

"Our alliance is not just ceremonial, it is essential."

Chargé d'Affaires Eric Meyer
Minister of Trade & Industry Cecilie Myrseth
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AmChamThanksgiving25-28

Good Fortune & Winning Bids

Highlights of the evening included the raffle and auction featuring items generously donated by AmCham members and partners.

The raffle featured coveted prizes such as a flight voucher from Icelandair, a one-on-one coaching session from Dale Carnegie Training, and a weekend with a Lucid Air.
The auction sparked excitement with auctioneer extraordinaire Christopher Minora leading the fast-paced bidding round, engaging both seasoned donors and first-time supporters.

Up for auction grabs were prizes such an iconic Coca-Cola minifridge, a 10 kg wheel of Jarlsberg from Tine, VIP tickets to Tons of Rock 2026, and a rare Hard Rock Cafe pin from their recent opening at Jernbanetorget.

Following the raffle and auction, AmCham Norway Managing Director Jason Turflinger proudly announced the record-breaking amount of 135 000 NOK raised in support of UNICEF Norway’s work.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all attendees, partners, sponsors, and donors for making this year’s gathering meaningful and memorable!

Auctioneer Christopher Minora
Auctioneer Christopher Minora

Please click on the image to read the letter from UNICEF Norway Secretary General Maria Greenberg Bergheim.

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Raffle & Auction Prize Sponsors

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Photocure receives prestigious Innovation Prize from the Norwegian Cancer Society: Recognition for Groundbreaking Contributions in Bladder Cancer Diagnostics

Oslo, 28 November 2025 – Photocure is honored to announce that we have been awarded the 2025 Innovation Prize from Kreftforeningen, the Norwegian Cancer Society. The prize provides recognition of our commitment to advancing cancer diagnostics and improving patient outcomes. The award, accompanied by a prize of 300,000 NOK, was presented yesterday, during the 10th anniversary celebration of Oslo Cancer Cluster Innovation Park, following rigorous evaluation by a committee appointed by the Norwegian Cancer Society.

The committee considered several criteria, including innovative capacity, documented positive impact for cancer patients, and national or international recognition. During the award ceremony they emphasized how Photocure had established itself as a leading player in Europe and the United States in the field of bladder cancer, bringing products to market and continuing to drive innovation through research and development. The proven benefit to the patient was a key factor in the committee’s decision.

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IBM and Cisco Announce Plans to Build a Network of Large-Scale, Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computers

NOVEMBER 20, 2025 – YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, NY and SAN JOSE, CA — Today, IBM (NYSE: IBM) and Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) announced an intention to collaborate on the groundwork for networked distributed quantum computing, to be realized as soon as the early 2030s. By combining IBM’s leadership in building useful quantum computers with Cisco’s quantum networking innovations, the companies plan to explore how to scale large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers beyond IBM’s ambitious roadmap. Additionally, they will work to solve fundamental challenges towards a quantum computing internet.

Within five years, IBM and Cisco will aim to demonstrate the first proof-of-concept for a network that combines individual, large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers, enabling them to work together to run computations over tens to hundreds of thousands of qubits. This network would allow problems to be run with potentially trillions of quantum gates, the fundamental entangling operations required for transformative quantum applications such as massive optimization problems, or the design of complex materials and medicines.

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