The Melkoeya plan: a controversial alternative to reduce carbon emissions

The Norwegian parliament recently voted to consider an alternative to reduce carbon emissions at Western Europe’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility, operated by oil company Equinor and its partners.

The Melkoeya Project: Conflict between green industry, electricity prices and indigenous rights

The site is known to be one of the largest single emitters of carbon dioxide in Norway, so reducing its emissions is a priority for the country.

Parliament has ordered the minority government to evaluate carbon capture and storage(CCS) as an alternative to electrification by 2029. This decision follows a request from Equinor and its partners to replace the use of gas at the site with electricity from the national grid, in order to reduce emissions. However, the company said that CCS would be too expensive. In a unanimous vote, Parliament ordered the government to assess the feasibility of CCS, despite Equinor’s claims.

The Melkoeya plan, as it is called, has been a controversial issue for locals because of its apparent conflict with the development of green industry, rising electricity prices, as well as the rights of indigenous Sami reindeer herders. As the Norwegian local elections approach later this year, the plan has become a major concern for voters in the region. The opposition is seeking to take advantage of the low ratings of the centre-left minority government.

Equinor and partners encouraged to consider CCS to reduce carbon emissions

Equinor’s partners on the site are TotalEnergies, Wintershall Dea, Neptune Energy and the Norwegian state-owned company Petoro. Despite the controversy surrounding the project, the parliament did not stop the electrification of the project. Instead, he recommended that Equinor and its partners consider the use of CCS as a viable alternative for reducing carbon emissions.