Proud of our role in the energy transition and petroleum industry

How can we secure jobs in the oil and gas sector while meeting climate goals?

Recently, Energy minister Terje Aasland (Labour Party / Arbeiderpartiet) and Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party (Høyre), Tina Bru, met to debate the future of Norway’s petroleum industry. The debate, moderated by Sofie Valdersnes from Aker BP, brought together around 300 employees from Aker BP and Aker Solutions in Stavanger.

Karl Johnny Hersvik and Pål Eikeseth on Future Priorities
Aker BP’s CEO, Karl Johnny Hersvik, participated in the debate alongside Pål Eikeseth from Aker Solutions. Hersvik highlighted that increasing exploration and making new discoveries is key to sustaining activity:
– We have technology that allows us to explore more efficiently and cover larger areas faster. By using artificial intelligence (AI), we can make better interpretations and more quickly identify the most promising areas.

Hersvik also emphasized the importance of internal improvement initiatives to maintain competitiveness:
– We must adopt new technology, streamline processes, and shorten the time from discovery to development. AI will not only simplify this process but also reshape the labor market. Some types of jobs will disappear, but at the same time, new opportunities and different roles will emerge.

From the left: Sofie Valdersnes (Aker BP), Pål Eikeseth (Aker Solutions), Karl Johnny Hersvik (Aker BP) and Frode Alfheim (Styrke).

Proud of our oil industry
During the debate, both Aasland and Bru highlighted the importance of Norway’s petroleum industry, especially in light of the geopolitical situation following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
– We should be proud of our oil industry. What we do is critical to ensuring that European industries are not forced to shut down, said Aasland.

Green technology and collaboration
While exploration and production are vital for the industry’s future, the development of green technology must also be prioritized. Offshore wind, hydrogen, and other green projects were central to the discussion. Bru urged collaboration:
– We must collectively emphasize the importance of green projects. The industry plays a crucial role in communicating this to both politicians and society.

The road ahead
Aker BP and its employees play a vital role in balancing traditional petroleum operations with the development of future solutions. The collaboration between politicians, unions, and the industry provides a strong foundation for continued growth and innovation.