Energy company Equinor has been fined a total of NOK720mn ($66.37mn) by the Norwegian authority for economic and environmental crime. The procedure follows illegal discharges of gas and oil at the Mongstad refinery between 2016 and 2021. The sum includes a NOK220mn ($20.28mn) fine and a NOK500mn ($46.09mn) confiscation, which authorities claim represents cost savings from insufficient maintenance.
Investigators allege that Equinor failed to carry out essential work on several units at the site, leading to repeated environmental incidents. The most serious case mentioned involves the release of 40 tonnes of gas containing hydrogen sulphide, a toxic compound that posed an immediate danger to employees present during the incident.
Dispute over maintenance obligations
Prosecutor General Maria Bache Dahl stated that the shortcomings identified resulted from systemic deficiencies in the refinery’s infrastructure management. Authorities believe that Equinor was aware of the situation and failed to take appropriate corrective action.
The accusation is based on inspections conducted over five years, which concluded that maintenance failures had enabled the company to reduce its operating costs. The lack of repairs and upgrades is said to have provided an undue economic advantage.
Equinor to challenge decision in court
State-controlled Equinor has announced its intention to contest the ruling in court. In an official statement, the company denies allegations that it deliberately reduced maintenance to enhance profitability.
Siv Helen Rygh Torstensen, Equinor’s Legal Affairs Director, stated that the company “does not agree with the claim that it failed to maintain the plant properly for several decades.” She also argued that the alleged savings cannot be directly linked to the maintenance deficiencies cited by investigators.
A conflict with dual dimensions
The case raises questions about the relationship between regulatory obligations and the operational strategies of a publicly owned company. As a strategic player in Norway’s energy sector, Equinor is expected to balance industrial responsibilities with national compliance requirements.
The legal challenge comes amid increased scrutiny over how critical infrastructure is managed by partially state-owned companies. The outcome may influence perceptions of potential conflicts of interest within national energy firms.
