Tag Archives: Erna Solberg

World Oil: Norway kicks off construction of world’s largest floating offshore wind farm

Business News, Energy, ,

Prime Minister Erna Solberg and Kværner apprentice Arne Linga started construction of Hywind Tampen, a floating offshore wind farm, at Kværner Stord. The technology project opens up new opportunities for Norwegian industry. Prime Minister Solberg and Linga started the cutting robot on the project’s first sheet of steel on Thursday, 1 October. Kværner’s assignment will include building 11 floating concrete hulls for the turbines on Hywind Tampen.

“Hywind Tampen is a new chapter in Norway’s narrative as an energy nation. With support from the Norwegian authorities, we’re not only building Norway’s first offshore wind project; we’re refining floating offshore wind technology along with the Norwegian supplier industry,” says Equinor president and CEO Eldar Sætre.

Read entire article here

Reuters: Norway may have to tighten COVID-19 restrictions, PM says

AmCham News, , ,

OSLO (Reuters) – Norway is going to stop easing coronavirus curbs for the moment and could be forced to bring back tougher measures following a recent rise in the number of cases, Prime Minister Erna Solberg said on Thursday.

Norway went into lockdown in mid-March and quickly saw a sharp fall in new cases, then began a gradual easing of restrictions in May.

“The government is considering tighter measures,” Solberg told a news conference.

Read entire article here

Reuters: Norway PM says will not ease COVID-19 restrictions yet

Business News, Government, , ,

OSLO (Reuters) – Norway will not yet ease restrictions designed to counter the novel coronavirus even though the spread has been slower recently, Prime Minister Erna Solberg said on Friday.

“Even if the infection numbers are coming down, we can’t say that we have landed safely yet… we have to be sure that we maintain control,” Solberg told a news conference.

To prevent a resurgence in COVID-19 infections, the country halted its planned easing of restrictions earlier this month, and imposed new measures such a ban on bars to serve alcohol after midnight.

Read entire article here

Forbes: Norway Clamps Down As Coronavirus Cases Rise, Face Masks A Possibility

Business News, Government, ,

Following a rise in positive COVID-19 tests over the last two weeks, the Norwegian government has extended its emergency measures and introduced some new restrictions.

Ban on large events, late-night alcohol

The maximum limit of 200 people at events is to be retained, as will the ban on grass-roots sports. There is also a new a nationwide ban on alcohol serving after midnight in bars and pubs until further notice. “There is a connection between alcohol consumption and how you behave,” said Norway’s prime minister Erna Solberg to Dagbladet.

Travelers arriving in Norway from so-called “red” countries will be required to wear face masks until their reach their home. In addition, the government is now advising against all unnecessary travel outside Norway.

Read entire article here

Time Magazine: Erna Solberg on How Norway Is Reopening With Cautious Optimism: ‘We Know Where the Risk Points Are’

Business News, Government, , ,

When COVID-19 started rapidly spreading throughout Europe in March, Norway was hard hit. But under Prime Minister Erna Solberg’s leadership, the country quickly adopted strict lockdown measures and ramped up testing. Five months later, Norway now enjoys one of the lowest fatality rates in Europe.

“This is the rainiest day Norway has had since the 1930s,” Solberg said during a TIME 100 Talks discussion with International Editor Dan Stewart. “But I think, in a way, we were lucky in the unluck that we had.”

Read the entire interview HERE.

Reuters: Norway pledges $1 billion to vaccines against COVID-19, other diseases

Business News, Government, Health, , , ,

OSLO (Reuters) – Norway will give $1 billion to support the distribution worldwide of any vaccine developed against COVID-19 as well as for vaccines against other diseases, Prime Minister Erna Solberg said on Monday.

Oslo made the pledge as part of a donor conference held on Monday by the European Union to raise 7.5 billion euros ($8.23 billion) towards the testing, treatment and prevention of the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

Non-EU member Norway is a co-chair of the event as a long-standing donor to global health initiatives.

Read entire article HERE.

Reuters: Norway plans temporary tax relief for oil firms

Business News, Energy, Government, , ,

OSLO (Reuters) – Norway proposed on Thursday to temporarily ease tax rules for oil firms to try to prevent a collapse in investments due to the coronavirus pandemic and a related collapse in crude prices.

The plan could boost the liquidity of oil companies by as much as 100 billion Norwegian crowns ($9.7 billion) over 2020 and 2021, Prime Minister Erna Solberg said.

The companies will be allowed to write-off investments more quickly, effectively postponing tax payments until later years.

Read entire article HERE.

Forbes: Norway Relaxes Coronavirus Restrictions, But Event Ban Continues

Business News, Government, ,

The Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg has announced that several of the country’s emergency measures will be relaxed after Easter.

Kindergartens will open again from April 20, while schools for the youngest age groups will open one week later. The reopening of schools for older children will be assessed. Some businesses forced to close because of the regulations—including hair salons—will be permitted to reopen in the course of April.

The controversial ban on staying in cabins and other leisure properties outside of a person’s home municipality will be lifted from April 20. While an overnight stay in a cabin will no longer be a criminal offence, avoiding leisure travel remains a national recommendation.

Read entire article HERE.

Bloomberg: Oil Engineer Helps Norway Double Respirator Capacity

Business News, Health, , ,

An idea from a Norwegian oil engineer will help the Nordic country double the number of respirators in its hospitals to treat covid-19 patients.

The emergency respirator was developed in only three weeks and production is due to start imminently, Prime Minister Erna Solberg said at a press conference on Tuesday. Norway currently has less than 700 such machines.

Engineer and entrepreneur Eivind Gransaether came up with the idea, which was then developed by the Norwegian Defense Research Institute and private businesses Laerdal Medical AS and Servi AS. The Norwegian government has guaranteed funding for the project and ordered 1,000 respirators, some of which might ultimately be exported.

Read entire article HERE.

Bloomberg: Norway PM Loses Majority Coalition After Populist Partner Quits

Business News, Government, , , , , ,

Norway’s Prime Minister Erna Solberg lost her majority coalition after her main ally quit the government to protest the repatriation of a woman who’d joined Islamic State.

The prime minister, who leads the Conservative Party, will continue to run a minority coalition without the anti-immigration Progress Party. Though she avoided a total government collapse, Solberg now faces a tougher future getting legislation through a more fractious parliament. Progress Party Leader Siv Jensen, who was also Norway’s finance minister, made clear she’s sick of political compromise and will now pursue a much harder line to defend her populist program.

Read entire article HERE.