Norway Risks Gasoline Shortage

Norway is now severely at risk of a gasoline shortage, as maritime pilots are on strike over wages. The protest is halting all domestic shipments, as well as the export of oil products. Fuel vessels are required by law to be led by pilots to ensure safe navigation to and from ports, as are all vessels surpassing 70 meters in length.

A representative from Statoil Fuel & Retail ASA, one of the country’s leading fuel vendors, has already noticed the impact. They cannot get tankers in or out of the country.

The Slagentangen refinery – a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil – is running as usual, but needs new shipments of crude oil to keep producing, but production could be reduced or shut down by the end of the week.

Forty-two out of 43 maritime pilots in the Oslofjord in southern Norway were called to strike after federal wage negotiations failed this week. The strike is expected to be expanded by 103 pilot boat drivers, who are transporting pilots to and from vessels.

Statoil ASA again stated that about 30 vessels transporting gas, crude oil and oil products could potentially be hit at their biggest oil and gas terminals. Earlier this week, eight vessels sailing into the Oslofjord and 15 outgoing ships were waiting for a pilot.

The Norwegian Petroleum Institute said it was working with alternatives for the Oslo area, seeking different supplies and exemptions.