Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre breaks the news to the employees in Stavanger. (Photo: Arne Bjørøen/OD)

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre emphasises that both agencies are crucial in the effort to further evolve the Norwegian shelf, both within oil and gas as well as new industries

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre visited the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) and the Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) in Stavanger last week. He was there to announce that both the NPD and PSA will change their names as of 1 January 2024. The NPD's new name will be the Norwegian Offshore Directorate. The PSA's new name will be the Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority.

The Prime Minister emphasises that both the NPD and PSA play important roles in the crucial effort to further evolve the Norwegian shelf, both within oil and gas as well as new industries.

The Prime Minister met with employees

"These name changes are a recognition of the important work done by the directorate and the authority in developing transport and storage of CO2, offshore wind and seabed minerals," the Prime Minister said at a townhall meeting with NPD and PSA employees.

For example, the NPD has mapped potential CO2 storage sites on the Norwegian shelf and assists the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy in facilitating further development in transport and storage of CO2. The Directorate also works with the opportunities presented by extraction of seabed minerals. The PSA has an effort under way to establish HSE regulations for offshore wind.

A red-letter day

"Today is a red-letter day. It's a day we'll all remember. The new name reflects the considerable range of tasks we've been entrusted with linked to activity on the Norwegian shelf," said Director General Torgeir Stordal.

He pointed out that the NPD has been working hard for more than 50 years to create the greatest possible values for the broader society from the oil and gas industry. In recent years, the Directorate has been assigned several tasks associated with new industries.

"We have a shelf that is enormously rich in resources. Not only do we have oil and gas for a long time to come, we also have significant capacity to store CO2, as well as good wind resources. Not to mention that we've also identified a potential for considerable mineral resources," Stordal said.

KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: Norwegian Petroleum Directorate