Norway SPECIAL REPORT | MAY 13, 2012
Idyllic settings URBAN CULTURE STUNNING BEAUTY
For a more colourful world, we’re taking steps to be a little greener
At Jotun we constantly innovate protection. As we take continuous steps to better protect your property, we’re also taking even greater steps to better protect our environment. We call it Jotun GreenSteps - steps that make a significant difference to the world we all share. Steps like waste and hazardous material reduction, product innovations that reduce energy usage, new processes that lower our carbon footprint and creating more products with lower volatile organic compound emissions. For more on Jotun GreenSteps, simply visit jotun.com, and learn about our journey towards a greener, more colourful world.
SPECIAL REPORT | MAY 13, 2012
NORWAY SPECIAL REPORT MAY 13, 2012 EDITORIAL
Executive Editor Patrick Michael Supplements Editor Suchitra Steven Samuel Reporting Farhana Chowdhury
PRODUCTION
Designers Mohammad Ejaz Khan Sidharthan Imaging Venugopal Prabhu
ADVERTISING
Director Advertising Haroon Qureshi Senior Advertising Manager (Supplements) Philip Smith Dubai HeadOffice: P.O. Box 11243, Tel: +971 4 3383535 Fax: +971 4 3383345/46 E-mail: supplements@khaleejtimes.com
CONTENT Norway - UAE ties expanding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shipping focuses on LNG technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wind power seen surging as custom barges cut cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Opportunities for new gas-cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Funding new green growth technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Boasting a competitive edge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Specialists in quality work at low expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . From black gold to health and safety issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Transmitting over waves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seafood trade fair back on the right track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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NORWAY REPORT
BILATERAL RELATIONS
View of the harbour and the town hall of Oslo from the Akershus fortress, Scandinavia, Norway. — Photo courtesy: photolibrary.com
Norway - UAE ties expanding The Free Trade agreement between the European Free Trade Area and the GCC, now being ratified will facilitate trade flows between Norway and the UAE which will enhance the growing and expanding of the good relations between both countries Silvia Radan
Å
se Elin Bjerke considers herself a very curious person, curious about the world, learning and experiencing it. In her opinion, the most intriguing part about being a human being is to have the possibility to continuously learn. Her eagerness to know about the world brought Åse Elin Bjerke to the diplomatic service and, in September 2008, to Abu Dhabi as a diplomatic associate. She was so fascinated by the
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place that she requested the position of Ambassador of Norway to the UAE and in early 2009 she got the job. In an interview with Khaleej Times, Åse Elin Bjerke speaks about what makes the relations between Norway and the UAE great. How would you describe the relations between the UAE and Norway? I would describe them as growing; they are very good relations and they are expanding. There is an interest on both sides about
SPECIAL REPORT | MAY 13, 2012
Åse Elin Bjerke, Ambassador of Norway to the UAE
what our countries are all about. From the Norwegian side there has been representatives from the business community in the UAE from a very long time, even before the federation was established in 1971. I know that an industrial committee from the Nor-
Photo: Helge Hansen
Successfully developing gas value chains requires a particular habit.
Doing the impossible.
“It can’t be done.” To us, no other words sound more like a challenge. Working to develop reliable sources of natural gas, we’ve crossed many frontiers. In 1985, we began transferring gas through a subsurface pipeline from the Statfjord field across the Norwegian Trench for processing at Kårstø, Norway – a seemingly impossible task. We’ve constructed the world’s longest subsea gas pipeline, Langeled, carrying Ormen Lange gas 1,200 km to the north east of the UK. And not to forget the first offshore development in the arctic Barents Sea – the Snøhvit field – developed without surface installations. Wherever it can’t be done, we’re getting the job done. Go a little deeper at www.statoil.com
NORWAY REPORT
BILATERAL RELATIONS
been there every year for the past five years – and we will be there in January 2013 for sure. Like the UAE, Norway takes a specific interest in carbon capture storage. As petroleum producer Norway is engaged in trying to provide technologies for capture and storage for CO2. We actually do store carbon dioxide under the sea in depositories since 10 -11 years. We also have a CO2 tax on companies. The Full scale CO2 test centre at Mongstad had opened on 7 May 2012.
wegian parliament came visiting here in a chartered plane back in the early 70s just to get to know what the UAE was all about. So the Norwegian political establishment was early on very intrigued about the UAE. Since few years a number of Norwegian tourists are also coming to the UAE, with the establishment of a Norwegian budget airline, flying direct between Oslo and Dubai. When was the Norwegian Embassy established in Abu Dhabi? The Embassy was opened here in 1994. We also had a trade promotion unit attached to the embassy since then. Of course, the role of an embassy is to expand relations between two countries. As I mentioned, Norway is a petroleum producing country – we produce 2.2 million barrels of oil per day. If you take the global perspective, Norway is the sixth largest oil exporter and the second largest gas exporter in the world. Over a span of 40 years Norway established a huge petroleum industry. There are about 200,000 employed in this industry. With the new fi nds in the Northern Sea and the Barents Sea last year you will see expansion in the activity of the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) and some of the largest offshore investments done on worldwide basis in the years to come. More than Ninety per cent of our electricity comes from hydro-
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electric power. From the total energy mix in Norway, more than 60 per cent is renewable. What are the latest developments between the two countries in the fields of business and commerce? Obviously petroleum is an area we prioritize. We have seminars, we bring Norwegian companies here, and we provide information on Norwegian capacities in the petroleum sector, both in terms of equipment and services. For a long time Norway has been active in the maritime sector with the UAE, and we are also engaging ourselves with Masdar in the area of renewables. We take part in the World Future Energy Summit – we have
Crown Prince Haakon of Norway with Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Higher Education & Scientific Research, Åse Elin Bjerke, Norwegian Ambassador to UAE, at Zayed University Abu Dhabi Campus in 2010. — KT file photo
How was the two-way trade last year between the UAE and Norway? Like with most countries trade with the UAE increased substantially in the past 10 years. We saw a dip in 2008, but it’s picking up, and there is a possibility for increase, with more value and more volume in trade. We also have a free trade agreement that has been negotiated between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries, and the GCC countries. The EFTA Countries are Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein. The EFTA Countries are not members of the EU. The Agreement between the GCC and EFTA was signed back in 2009 and it is now in the process of being ratified. We believe that this free trade agreement will take away existing barriers and tariffs, so we will see an increased activity in trade through business and political visits between Norway and the UAE. Export from Norway to the
Workers look at StatoilHydro platform Sleipner T, which handles the division of CO2, in the North Sea of the coast of Norway. — Photo courtesy: Bloomberg
SPECIAL REPORT | MAY 13, 2012
You can visit Norway, be involved in a lot of activities, and this is what intrigues travellers to this country UAE are Dh1 billion, but you know, this is a number which doesn’t really encompass the economic exchange and activity. Norwegian business is an international business. Several Norwegian companies have established themselves here, like Jotun, which produces paint in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. We also have companies established here that provide services, such as DNV, and not least the petroleum Services sector. Services do not appear in trade statistics, so to hinge our bilateral commercial relations on trade statistics distort the actual realities. What about UAE’s investments in Norway? Last year there has been quite a big investment in the Norwegian gas-piping infrastructure. We see that through the UAE vision 2021 and the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, the UAE has an ambition to diversify its economy and also have technological transfer. We are a very open society in all aspects and have been willing to share our knowledge with investors and through joint ventures.
An intensive research sector in Norway has been the fi sh-farming sector, which is the second largest export sector in Norway. With better transportation between Norway and this region and the expansion of the hospitality sector here, there are grounds for more exports of Norwegian seafood to this region. Clean tech is another area where Norwegian companies have excelled on an international level and there is more and more focus here in the UAE on the environment. To increase cooperation between the UAE and Norway in this area is something we look forward to. Is there cooperation in the education sector? We have had Norwegian universities and business schools come here and look at the market, but they haven’t established themselves here, and the UAE hasn’t opened up yet to having students from here to study in Norway. This is one area where we could work more actively with the UAE and we welcome any delegation from the UAE to Norway.
We see that through the UAE vision 2021 and the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, the UAE has an ambition to diversify its economy and also have technological transfer Åse Elin Bjerke
The Northern Lights, the fjords and skiing are some of Norway’s top attractions. How is the tourism trend with the UAE? For a very long time Norway has been a very popular country as a destination for tourists, who are seeking the fj ords, the lakes, the midnight sun and the scenery. It was actually back in the nineteenth century that modern tourism started in Norway. Tourists and nobilities from Great Britain and Germany came and ventured out in unspoiled nature, visiting primarily the west coast of Norway. This is where you find the old wooden hotels, which are very popular and attractive. People also like to go to the fjords and on different type of cruises. You can visit Norway in a nutshell, you can do a lot of things, and I think that is what intrigues the traveller from the Gulf. You can buy cruises to Norway from here, some travel in groups and some travel individually. Visiting Norway has also become easier now since Qatar Airways opened direct flights, five times a week, in October last year, and they also can provide tourist packages. SPECIAL REPORT | MAY 13, 2012
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NORWAY REPORT
ECO-SHIPPING
LNG is becoming an increasingly important fuel source for the shipping industry, which must meet new environmental requirements within the decade
Shipping focuses on LNG technology
The shipping industry globally has become more aware of the need for environmentally friendly vessels, particularly those powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
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SPECIAL REPORT | MAY 13, 2012
Photo courtesy: photolibrary.com
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his year’s NOR Shipping conference in Oslo highlighted LNG’s significance with the unveiling of DNV’s and Oshima’s ECO-Ship concept and the Next Generation award to Rolls-Royce Marine for its Environship. The shipping industry globally has become more aware of the need for environmentally friendly vessels, particularly those powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). All newbuilds after 2016 will have to meet very strict standards for sulphur emissions. LNG will then be the best solution for new builds from that time, according to Erik Dyrkoren, MARUT Secretary and Programme Manager for the industry’s Maritime 21 strategy. Norway is the only country that has an LNG powered fleet and a good vantage point for making an industrial impact. There are almost 30 Norwegian vessels in its waters running on LNG and another 20 on order, largely thanks to the industry initiative called the NOx Fund, says Dyrkoren. The membership-based affiliation allows companies to pay a participant fee instead of paying nitrogen oxide taxes. “The technology is basically available but it is a matter of getting the ship owners to do the investment,” he said. “But that’s changing. We see ship owners are now looking ahead at a much higher price on bunker oil, making LNG even more attractive.”
NORWAY REPORT ECO Ship One such forward thinking collaboration is Oshima Shipbuilding of Japan’s teamwork with Det Norske Veritas in developing the LNG-powered ECO-Ship concept. The two announced at NOR Shipping that they had reached the fi rst milestone in their open hatch bulk carrier concept, which they anticipate will emit half the CO2 emissions compared to a traditional bulk carrier of corresponding type and size. The main part of the economic savings will be achieved through reduced voyage costs. Currently, the price of gas is lower than oil, making it more cost effective to power these carriers’ long voyages through LNG. “Heavy fuel oil has earlier been cheap compared to the current high levels and there has not been much focus on emission requirements,” said Adam Larsson, DNV Project Engineer for ship hydrodynamics and DNV’s Project Manager for the ECO-Ship project. “Now there is more interest on emissions reduction and thus interest for environmentalfriendly ship designs such as the ECO-Ship is growing.” By using LNG as a fuel source, the ECO-Ship will be able to emit about 20 per cent less CO2 than oil powered vessels thanks to the switch to lean burn gas engines. Once the design savings are implemented on-board in combination with the ship’s operational profile, the total amount of reduced CO2 emissions would be closer to 50 per cent on a tonnemile basis, according to Larsson. In addition, LNG practically does not contain sulphur and the LNG combustion process emits 90 per cent less NOx and eliminates all particulate emissions. A significant part of the environmental savings come from the highly efficient propulsion system running on LNG, based on RollsRoyce’s lean-burn four-stroke medium speed gas engines and a flexible propulsion and power generation system. The concept ship also features a waste-heat recovery system that can feed electric power into the system to supplement ship propulsion power, giving about 5 per cent additional fuel savings at normal cruising speeds. LNG propulsion is just one ele-
ECO-SHIPPING
ment of the ship’s many technical advances. For example, the design speed has been lowered compared to typical open hatch bulk carriers for additional fuel savings. The reduced design speed allows for a wide hull form and twin-screw propulsion system with high propulsive efficiency. Some of the improvement areas here include an air lubrication system for less hull friction, use of Oshima’s Seaworthy Bow for less resistance in waves, and flipper fi ns to improve the hydrodynamic flow to the propeller. Next Generation Award Another type of LNG technology that was recognised at this year’s NOR Shipping conference was Rolls-Royce’s Environship concept, a general cargo ship that has been optimised to carry a combination of cargo typical for short sea shipping in Northern Europe. The concept was awarded the Next Generation Ship Award, which recognises the yard, designer or owner with the most promising idea that will be at sea in the coming decade. The Environship uses a RollsRoyce Bergen B-Series lean burn engine that emits about 17 per cent less CO2 per unit of power than a diesel engine. The use of gas fuelled engines means that NOx emissions are reduced by about 90 per cent while sulphur
Heavy fuel oil has earlier been cheap compared to the current high levels and there has not been much focus on emission requirements Adam Larsson
oxide (SOx) emissions are negligible. The short sea shipping fleet is ageing and in need of renewal. By swapping to LNG fuel, the emissions from the shipping segment can be significantly reduced. The company received its fi rst order for vessels based on the Environship concept in October 2011 for Stavanger-based Nor Line. Rolls-Royce will design and provide integrated power systems for two technologically advanced cargo vessels to be built in China for start of operations along the west coast of Norway in 2013. The ships feature a striking wave piercing bow, gas-powered engines, and Promas propulsion system, which combined increase fuel efficiency by up to 18 per cent. The Promas system is an integrated rudder and propeller, while the vertical bow shape enables the vessel to maintain speed even in rough seas with burning additional fuel to make up for lost time. “Nor Lines and its owner, Stavangerske Dampskibsselskab, believe that the future fuel for ships is natural gas,” said Toralf Ekrheim, Nor Lines Chief Executive. “In relation to oil-powered ships, the two new Nor Lines ships will have more than 35 per cent lower greenhouse gas emissions.” — Valeria Criscione, Norway Exports SPECIAL REPORT | MAY 13, 2012
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NORWAY REPORT
GREEN ENERGY
Wind power seen surging as custom barges cut cost Offshore wind-power producers from Dong Energy A/S to RWE AG are building custom ships at record rates to reduce the cost of the technology, which is three times as pricey as electricity from coal plants
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s many as 20 vessels, some with movable legs which reach the seafloor, will come onto the market in the next few years, reducing chartering costs of as much as 200,000 euros ($261,000) a day, said Marc Seidel, an Offshore Engineer at Suzlon Energy Ltd., which supplies turbines to Germany’s RWE. A lack of specialised installation ships has forced companies to hire barges designed for oil exploration, holding up work at projects such as EON AG’s Robin Rigg wind farm off Scotland’s western coast. The British government estimates that offshore wind may contribute more than £35 billion ($55 billion) to the economy by 2050, if costs are cut quickly enough. “Having these vessels is the difference between being able to build the projects we’re all looking at today and not,” said Paul Coffey, Chief Operating Officer of RWE’s Innogy unit. “They allow you to operate in deeper water depths, in more inclement water conditions. They allow you to get the job done faster and more safely.” In the early 2000s, developers had to “beg, steal and borrow” vessels from other industries to get projects completed, Coffey said. Essen-based RWE won rights with SSE Plc, Norway’s Statoil ASA and Statkraft AS to develop the Dogger Bank wind park 100 kilometres (62 miles) off eastern England in the UK’s third licensing round. Dong had a similar struggle. “We applied equipment across all elements of the supply chain which were developed for something else,” Dong’s Head of Renewables Construction, Christina
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We put land turbines out at sea, and we used vessels developed for the exploration and production industry, or bridgebuilding equipment
SPECIAL REPORT | MAY 13, 2012
Dong
Grumstrup Soerensen, said by phone. “We put land turbines out at sea, and we used vessels developed for the exploration and production industry, or bridge-building equipment.” The new ships allow developers to install turbines in deeper waters, lift heavier weights, cope with bigger swells, and carry more machines out to wind-farm sites, speeding up project completion. A utility can earn 10,000 euros operating a 6-megawatt turbine on a “good windy day,” said Thomas Karst, an industry adviser with Make Consulting LLC in Aarhus, Denmark. “If you can have 10 turbines up a month earlier on a project, that’s 3 million euros in your pocket from early generation,” he said. While sea-based wind power is among the most expensive forms of renewable energy, countries including the UK have promoted large-scale projects to add jobs, harness the stronger winds offshore, and lessen the noise and visual impact of turbines on nearby communities. Offshore wind costs about $232 a megawatt-hour of power gener-
ated, according to data from Bloomberg New Energy Finance. That compares with about $80 for onshore wind, $62 for gasfired plants, and $77 for coal. The government supports the industry with incentives for power produced by renewable energy sources. “If we gave away our turbine for free, we would not even be close to the price of coal,” said Jesper Moeller, head of offshore engineering for the wind division of turbine manufacturer Siemens AG. The Munich-based company supplied the majority of machines installed at sea in Europe last year. RWE spent 200 million euros on two custom-made craft, which can operate in waters 45 metres (148 feet) deep and are due to begin work in June and July. The vessels, known as jack-up barges, have platforms supported by legs which can be adjusted to fi t different water depths and heights for the towers supporting wind turbines. “We didn’t want to be in a situation where we couldn’t choose when to build our wind parks,” Coffey said. “We don’t want to be at the back of a very long queue for a vessel.” A2Sea, a Siemens-Dong venture, which is installing turbines at the 1-gigawatt London Array, the world’s largest approved offshore wind park, initially operated two old container ships, adapted with cranes and legs, according to Chief Executive Officer Jens Frederik Hansen. The venture now has two larger vessels with another due this year, it announced a $155 million deal to have a fourth built by 2014. Courtesy: MarineLink
NORWAY REPORT
DRILLING ACTIVITY
Opportunities for new gas-cluster Maersk Oil continues this year's drilling activity in the Norwegian Sea with the prospect Albert, to be drilled with the Transocean Barents. The hope is to discover new gas reserves and participate in site development and major new investments in infrastructure
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n 2012 we will drill another self-operated well in the Norwegian Sea, this time in PL 513 on the prospect Albert, with Dana Petroleum as a partner. This is a very exciting well, the prospect is just north of the Victoria discovery," says the Head in Maersk Oil Norway, Morten W. Jeppesen to Offshore.no/International.
String of discoveries A number of oil companies have made a string of gas discoveries in the Norwegian Sea: Statoil, Shell, RWE DEA with its Zidane discovery, BP and Total
with its Victoria gas discovery. However, there is currently no gas evacuation capacity needed to develop these discoveries. Most of these discoveries are also too small to justify development of new infrastructure on their own. The operators are therefore in the process of planning a new gas pipeline from the discoveries to the onshore facilities in Nyhamna, where also gas from the Ormen Lange field is processed. Gassco, which operates the Norwegian gas network, has prepared a report that points to the need for a new gas pipeline.
Among other things, the report points out: A new pipeline from the Barents Sea could be operational in 2020, and should have capacity to accommodate potential new volumes in the Norwegian Sea. So, Maersk Oils drilling of its prospect Albert, which is located north of the discovery Victoria, which long been considered the largest undeveloped gas discovery in Norway, can, if successful, add new reserves, strengthening the economy in a new pipeline project. Courtesy: Offshore.no.
A number of oil companies have made a string of gas discoveries in the Norwegian Sea: Statoil, Shell, RWE DEA with its Zidane discovery, BP and Total with its Victoria gas discovery
JOTUN GREENSTEPS INITIATIVE: ‘GreenSteps’ towards a more colourful world
For years, the world has worked towards preserving the environment and its valuable resources, reflecting the concern we have for giving future generations a better place to live. Jotun, one of the world’s leading producers and distributors of paints, coatings and powder coatings, have recently consolidated their sustainability efforts under the Jotun GreenSteps programme. Through five key goals, the programme ensures Jotun products are better formulated in an effort to preserve the world’s resources and keep it more colourful. “At Jotun, protection is at the core of all we do and as we take continuous steps to better protect your property, we are also taking even greater steps to better protect our environment,” said Per Olav Ramstad, Jotun Paints marketing director. “‘Jotun GreenSteps’ is a key component of Jotun’s commitment to protect the environment.” These five ‘GreenSteps’ are: 1.
Reduction in energy consumption.
2.
Reduction of carbon footprint.
3.
Reduction of waste.
4.
Reduction of solvent or Volatile Organic Compound (VOC).
5.
Reduction of hazardous materials.
Through operating sustainably and providing the following technologies, Jotun ensures the ’Jotun GreenSteps’ goals are an integral driver to all new innovations.
Durable long term solutions: Jotun’s high quality premium products mean they last longer than any other solutions, which makes them more sustainable by nature. Jotun exterior paints offer crack bridging and anti carbonation properties, which make them resist wear, tear and harsh weather. Unlike other paints, Jotun paints don’t flake or peel easily and are washable. The fact that Jotun uses premium pigments means the colours also last longer. According to Ramstad, the ultimate product in exterior protection is Jotashield Superdurable which has unique silicon binder technology that offers protection for up to 20 years. Claudio Iurilli, Jotun Powder Coatings marketing director, also shares Ramstad’s beliefs. According to Iurilli, ultimate corrosion protection is nowadays a given in the powder coating industry. Because most powder coatings substrates are coated once for life, a powder coating has to meet minimum quality standards that make it last in good shape for many years. Iurilli referred to Durasol, which is backed by a 30-year product warranty, as the ultimate timeless protection powder coating for architectural applications.
When it comes to Powder Coatings, Jotun places strong emphasis on developing low temperature cure solutions that enable customers to achieve operational efficiency and energy savings
ADVERTISEMENT At Jotun, protection is at the core of all we do and as we take continuous steps to better protect your property, we are also taking even greater steps to better protect our environment Cool Coatings solutions: Sustainability is a key responsibility, not only for Jotun but also for its customers. Jotun has therefore focused on products that offer a reduction in customers’ energy use. Such innovations include Jotashield Extreme, an exterior paint, and the Cool Shades Collection of powder coatings; both have heat management properties that make them reflect more sun in warm weather, delivering a reduction in the interior temperature of the building. The Cool Coatings solutions reflect Jotun’s continuing commitment towards compliance with standards and guidelines for green buildings. “Recent studies have shown that structures painted with ‘Jotashield Extreme’ are two to five degrees centigrade lower as compared to other structures that have used normal paint,” explained Ramstad.
Less hazardous technologies: Jotun is continuously seeking less hazardous solutions to replace any hazardous material in the manufacturing of paints and powder coatings. The company has maximized the usage of raw materials that reduce and eliminate these harmful components. An example is the elimination of lead from all of Jotun’s paints and powder coatings. Ramstad also refers to the company’s recent achievement in paints, which involved the introduction of a new APEO and Formaldehyde free product in the Fenomastic paint range.
Lower temperature Cure Powder Products: Per Olav Ramstad Regional Marketing Director Jotun Paints MENA
“When it comes to Powder Coatings, Jotun places strong emphasis on developing low temperature cure solutions that enable customers to achieve operational efficiency and energy savings. Recent powder innovations like Guard Gaze, Guard Miles and Guard Miles+ are all designed to allow lower temperature cure compared to standard powder solutions,” said Iurilli. “Research shows that low temperature cure powder coatings technology and thin film applications create greater operational efficiency and produce a smaller carbon footprint than traditional industrial finishes,” explained Iurilli. Lower temperature cure also opens up possibilities to coat more substrates. A classic example of this is Jotun’s Era-Coat MDF powder coating.
More Water based paints solutions: Claudio lurilli Jotun Powder Coatings Global Marketing Director
VOCs are traditionally used as solvents in paint products, which can cause chronic health problems and contribute to high levels of ozone and smog. Over recent decades, Jotun has worked on developing water
based products, which have reduced VOC content and have minimal effects on the environment. Examples of Jotun water based paint products are Fenomastic Emulsion, Fenomastic Gold, Lady Essentials Silk, and Jotashield.
Mileage and thin film powder solutions: Iurilli explained how Mileage is also a focus area for Jotun Powder Coatings’ innovations. Recent product innovations have been designed to give Original Equipment Manufacturers and job coaters more mileage and better operating efficiencies, which reduces their energy and increases their productivity. “Guard Miles+ provides better powder utilization and reduces time and maintenance cost. If applied with the right equipment and expertise, using Guard Miles+ powder solutions can achieve up to 30 per cent reduction in powder consumption.” Jotun powder coatings will continue to introduce more thin film products. These are proven to have the smallest carbon footprint throughout the whole value chain process.
Fuel Consumption Management Marine Coatings In the field of Marine Coatings, Jotun’s Hull Performance Solutions (HPS) is the key to the future of fuel consumption management and emission control. Jotun’s HPS combines premium antifouling, priority technical service and reliable tools to measure hull performance over time. HPS also comes with a money back guarantee if the antifouling coating fails to deliver less than 1.5 per cent speed loss or a maximum 4.5 per cent increase in fuel consumption over a 60 months dry-docking interval.
More GreenSteps ahead: Jotun realizes that there is clearly more work to be done today in a world faced with increasing environmental challenges. We take our role as a global citizen very seriously and continue to strive to make things better. ‘Jotun GreenSteps’ program is embedded into our culture and is part of our core value system. The way we interact with the environment and the community at large is very important to understand. Jotun never makes compromises on high quality, reliability and durability. Creating products for the environment is no longer an option, but a fundamental core to Jotun’s company fabric and we look forward to strengthening our collaboration with the wider industry in creating a more colorful future,” concluded Ramstad.
NORWAY REPORT
ECO TECHNOLOGY
Funding new green growth technology Norway has allocated NOK 500 million to several organisations for the next three years towards a new green growth strategy coordinated by Innovation Norway. It marks the first time the government has embarked on such a comprehensive approach for promoting environmental technology. The hope is that it will open for more types of projects that can receive support
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he idea for the new initiative has part of its roots in the government’s White Paper on Innovation Policy from December 2009. At that point, it was mostly about focusing on development of environmentally friendly technology as part of combining measures between industrial policies and attaining environmental goals. Norway’s Ministries of Industry and Environment established a strategic council that identified the gap between research and development and commercialisation. This was used as the basis for the new environmental technology initiative launched this May. One of the problems the new strategy addresses is the lack of coordination between the different organisations. There are many Norwegian groups promoting environmentally friendly technology. The Research Council of Norway allocates funds through programmes Clean Energy for the Future (RENERGI) and User-driven Research Based Innovation (BIA), Enova has the New Technology programme, and Innovation Norway issues grants through Industrial Research and Development (IFU), just to name a few. The conundrum has been for businesses to correctly select which type to apply for. “There are several schemes. If you were a business, you would wonder which one you should go for and that has been presented as a problem,” said Carl Gjersem, Senior Advisor in the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s re-
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search and department
innovation
More coordination The government has therefore set up a new system that will ensure more coordination and less confusion. In May 2011, the government nominated Innovation Norway to lead the new government strategy for environmental technology known as Business Development and Green Growth with a NOK 500 million budget from 2011 to 2013. One of the things Innovation Norway will be striving for is to increase the dialogue among these groups. For example, it will work on having the different organisations coordinate better on the timing of proposals so that they are spaced better for participants. Innovation Norway has overall
SPECIAL REPORT | MAY 13, 2012
Sway Turbine’s 10 MW offshore turbine prototype in Øygarden is among the types of projects that have received public research funding in Norway. © Sway Turbine
responsibility for the programme as secretariat. It will guide the three other organisations getting funds from this programme – the Research Council, Enova and Transnova – as well as participating organisations GIEK (guarantee institute for export credit), Eksportsfinans (Norwegian export credit institution for export financing), Climate and Pollution Agency (KLIF), Gassnova (state-owned enterprise for CO2 capture and storage), and Industrial Development Corporation of Norway (SIVA). Trondheimbased SINTEF, Scandinavia’s largest independent research organisation, will be leading the advisory board. The new strategy will give the participating organisations a total of NOK 167 million per year in additional funds, but with a much broader purpose. Innovation Norway will receive the largest amount, NOK 117 million. The state-owned enterprises Enova will receive NOK 20 million per annum to promote offshore wind efforts and Transnova, NOK 20 million for environmentally friendly transport technology. The remaining NOK 10 million will go to the Research Council towards three of their Centres for Excellence within environmentally friendly technology. “There is a very comprehensive definition of environmental technology,” said Gjersem. “It includes industries that contributes toward reduced emissions and makes it broader.” Courtesy: Norway Exports
NORWAY REPORT
MARLINK
SPECIAL REPORT | MAY 13, 2012
NORWAY REPORT
STATOIL
Boasting a competitive edge Statoil offers state-of-the-art technology and competence within exploration, production and environmental protection Latha Krishnan Statoil, an international energy company with operations in 36 countries and 40 years of experience from oil and gas production on the Norwegian continental shelf, is the largest offshore oil and gas operator in the world. In its growth out of its base in Norway, the company has developed new technologies and practices in handling the rising challenges of operating in different regions of the world. “Our cutting-edge technology and strong values form the basis of how we run our business globally,” affirms Neri Askland, Statoil’s Country Manager in Abu Dhabi, which is the company’s Middle East headquarter. Operating in the Arabian Gulf for over a decade, Statoil has also been working in partnership with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) since the early 1990s through its ownership of Borealis and operation of Bourouge, which it exited in 20052006. The company continues to focus on its operations in Abu Dhabi within the exploration and development of oil and gas and is looking to become a partner with ADNOC in the near future. Statoil is also organising its efforts towards developing oil and
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Operating in the Arabian Gulf for over a decade, Statoil has also been working in partnership with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) since the early 1990s through its ownership of Borealis and operation of Bourouge, which it exited in 2005-2006
SPECIAL REPORT | MAY 13, 2012
Statoil`s Kaarstø gas terminal near Statoil’s headquarter in Stavanger, Norway, lies in rural surroundings. Here, large volumes of North Sea gas is processed and transported to Europe through the world`s most extensive large-diameter sub-sea pipeline system. Valuable products are extracted from the wet gas and exported by ship for petrochemical purposes gas resources in Oman, Qatar and Iraq from Abu Dhabi. Statoil believes that it has a competitive edge within four areas that will add value to its partners such as ADNOC. First is its expertise to extract oil and gas in biologically sensitive areas, leaving a minimal footprint as a result of its activities, as it has demonstrated repeatedly in its home country. The acquired technology and experience from these operations will be an asset in competing for projects in the Middle East, Askland believes. Being the second largest supplier of gas to Europe, only surpassed by Russia, Statoil boasts more than 30 years of experience in producing, marketing, processing and transporting gas in a
highly competitive market through its own gas value chain. Thirdly, Statoil has developed world-class expertise in Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) through its development and operation of Sleipner, the world’s first offshore fi eld to inject CO2 into the reservoir below the installations. From its start in 1996 Sleipner represents the most extensive experience in offshore carbon capture and storage and has become a role model for the industry within environmental technology and operations. Finally, Statoil offers an impressive track record within Increased Oil Recovery (IOR), having produced more than two billion barrels of extra oil from
NORWAY REPORT
STATOIL
Statoil applies state-of-the-art technology and innovative methods for Increasing Oil Recovery (IOR) from its producing fields in Norway as well as internationally. Computer simulation is an important tool in this respect its major offshore fi elds in Norway as a result of applying various technologies and IOR strategies. Through its state-of-the-art technology Statoil is capable of recovering up to 70 per cent of the oil and extend the life of the oil field. All these strengths of Statoil will undoubtedly enrich the exploration activities in Abu Dhabi and the region, as this is an area where exploration of oil and gas will continue for many more decades to come. In addition to discovered oil, which has much potential, there is still a lot of undiscovered oil. “Oil, gas and coal will be the most used energy sources in the long term and Statoil is determined to be at the forefront of the industry. In the last 15 years, there has not been much exploration but oil and gas will remain key resources of energy even though renewable sources are gaining popularity here and elsewhere,” says Askland. Statoil has a notable share of the wind energy market in Europe and operates several huge windmill parks, mainly in offshore venues where it already has the expertise. The company has also forayed into thermal energy, which demands the strong geological understanding and capacities obtained from its vast oil and gas exploration activities.
Oil, gas and coal will be the most used energy sources in the long term and Statoil is determined to be at the forefront of the industry. In the last 15 years, there has not been much exploration but oil and gas will remain key resources of energy even though renewable sources are gaining popularity here and elsewhere
Neri Askland
Statoil’s Sleipner field is a main supplier of natural gas to European customers. The field has also set a world standard when it comes to Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), injecting the extracted CO2 from the produced gas in a subsurface aquifer for safe storage SPECIAL REPORT | MAY 13, 2012
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NORWAY REPORT
KONGSBERG
Specialists in quality work at low expense Kongsberg Maritime is successfully operating from its base in Dubai and has no current plans to expand to other parts of the region
KMME undertakes service and installations aboard offshore vessels, merchant ships, LNG tankers and other specialised vessels operation in the GCC 18
Kongsberg Maritime is an international group headquartered in Norway, and provides innovative and reliable solutions for merchant marine, offshore, subsea, navy, coastal marine, fi sheries, maritime simulation and training, port and harbour surveillance and more. Their tag line, “Onethird of the world is covered by land, the rest is covered by Kongsberg,” aptly sums up the wide range of marine products and services they offer. In order to meet increasing market demands in the Middle East, Kongsberg Maritime in 2010, established Kongsberg Maritime Middle East DMCCO (KMME) in the UAE. The range of products includes advanced automation systems, alarm and monitoring systems, machinery control systems, dynamic positioning systems, navigation systems and hydro acoustic control systems including underwater navigation and seabed mapping systems.
SPECIAL REPORT | MAY 13, 2012
In addition to providing support and services for the entire GCC region, KMME also features training facilities in-house, certified by The Nautical Institute to provide training for Kongsberg Maritime’s products. KMME undertakes service and installations aboard offshore vessels, merchant ships, LNG tankers and other specialised vessels operation in the GCC. It also undertakes a wide variety of projects at shipyards, like project engineering , installation , commissioning and sea trials. Being part of a global company gives them access to cutting edge technology and innovation, says
Halvard Sagdahi, General Manager of KMME. The group is able to tap into the vast pool of resources of the parent company and have the legal, marketing and other support required. This keeps the expenses down and is ultimately good for the customers. Having a local presence makes them quick and responsive to customer needs. Halvard is very appreciative of the support received from the UAE Government and other local authorities that have seen them establish a strong regional presence in such a short time. Kongsberg Maritime is able to meet the GCC customers’ needs from the Dubai office and there are no plans currently to expand to other parts of the region. The company has grown its business in just two years of operation, evidenced by their staff growth. From 25 employees in 2010, KMME currently has nearly forty employees dedicated to supporting all products provided by Kongsberg Maritime. Some of their well-known products are Autochief, joystick systems, K-Chief, echo sounders and level gauging systems, cargo handling system, data positioning system, to name a few.
SPECIAL SPE S SP P PE EC CIIIA CIA AL REPO R REPORT EP EPO E P RT T|M MAY MA A 113 13, 3, 22012 012 012 2
NORWAY REPORT
TECHNOLOGY
From black gold to health and safety issues Norway is known for its groundbreaking technology within the field of petroleum research. Less known is that this very same technology has been transferred to the car and aerospace industries and can be used in the future to monitor patients wirelessly and map geohazards for subsea commuter tunnels in deep waters
N
orway has made great technological milestones within petroleum during 40 years’ history. In the 1980s, Norwegian companies built a 500-metre tall concrete platform and towed it through the fjord to the Troll field, breaking the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest man-made structure ever moved. In the 1990s, Norway’s second largest gas fi eld, Ormen Lange, was discovered in sea depths of up to 1,100 metres. However, Ormen Lange is not only significant for its groundbreaking subsea development technology. It is also known for its contribution to geohazards research through the integration of various geo disciplines, providing new methodology and solutions for non-petroleum applications. It began in the late 90s as an industry-funded study to determine whether the huge Ormen Lange subsea development and accompanying 1,200-kilometre pipeline could be constructed in the basin of the Storegga Slide, an ancient mega slide with a 300-kilometre escarpment which created a giant tsunami when the slope failed over 8,000 years ago. “This was the largest slope stability study ever performed,” said James M. Strout, Division Director for monitoring and geophysics at the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI). “The scientific and engineering work from the Ormen Lange development was a significant technical milestone for geohazards research.”
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SINTEF ICT collaborated with Helly Hansen to develop a new survival suit for helicopter transfer to the oil platforms based on SINTEF’s SmartWear technology. In addition to advanced textiles designed to protect and keep the person alive, the suit includes ICT to help rescuers locate the person. © Morten Brakestad
SPECIAL REPORT | MAY 13, 2012
Mapping Geohazards Based in Oslo, the NGI is a leading international centre for research and consulting in the geosciences. NGI’s mandate is to help transfer R&D results to industry, including applications of technology developed for the petroleum industry into nonpetroleum applications. Recent examples include applications of underwater instrumentation technology developed for offshore geohazards applications that can be used for support foundation installation and monitoring for industrial wind farm developments. “We have the full breadth of geotechnical, geological and geophysical capabilities, combined with practical solutions for dealing with subsea specific challenges like pressure, corrosion, bio fouling, and limited access,” said Strout. “They pick NGI because of its cross-discipline approach and our experience with offshore operations.” A current example is an R&D project at NGI related to seismic
mapping. The oil industry normally employs large seismic vessels to chart geology formations to thousands of metres below the seabed in the search for hydrocarbon bearing formations. NGI is investigating the use of small-scale seismic investigations that could use fishing boats to map geological conditions for tunnels crossing Norwegian fjords. Another example of relevant technology transfer is harbour remediation. NGI has worked with geophysical mapping using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) – used traditionally in the offshore industry for subsea installation work — to look at topography for the extent of dredging and depth of coverage over contaminated sediments. “One of the most interesting possibilities is the application of the high quality geophysical tools developed offshore to our needs in port and harbour development, specifically with environmental remediation problems,” said Strout.
NORWAY REPORT
MARLINK
Transmitting over waves Serving a broad range of communication options at sea, Marlink is one of the world’s preferred satellite communications provider
Magne Remoy
Monitoring Your Volvo & Your Heart Less than 10 minutes away from NGI, there is a different type of research taking place at SINTEF ICT, but with a similar goal: spinning off petroleum technology for other uses. SINTEF ICT specialises in microsensor technology. The sensors have many application areas, ranging from advanced nuclear research to downhole instrumentation in oil wells. They are costly to develop, but can be mass-produced at a fraction of the cost of traditional sensors. They are also more reliable and use less power than their predecessors, thereby opening up for new application areas. Several of the sensors originally developed for harsh offshore environments are already applied in other areas, such as the automotive and process industry. An example is a spin-off company from SINTEF ICT is Presens, which has adapted pressure sensors originally developed for offshore use to monitor automotive engines. SINTEF ICT developed the fi rst airbag sensor (accelerometer) back in the 1960s.
As vessels at sea increasingly become integrated with landbased operations, it is essential for today’s maritime sector to provide its customers with flexible, high quality and reliable voice and data communications at sea. The idea of trying to operate any kind of successful business whilst retaining a happy and quality crew onboard without access to high speed Internet is now unimaginable. Marlink is one of the world’s leading global satellite communications providers, offering its customers a single source for a broad range of voice and data solutions, backed by an estab-
lished service and support network. Magne Remoy, Marlink’s Director for Middle East, Africa and India explains, “While Marlink is a Norwegian company, we are a global operation reaching every corner of the world. Within the Middle East region today we are seeing an increasing demand for advanced communications solutions most notably across the Gulf offshore industry. This is driven by the need to keep pace with rising demand cou-
“There has been a silent revolution in the automotive industry,” said Ole Christian Bendixen, SINTEF ICT Research Director. “Modern cars now include numerous sensors controlling air bags, ABS, traction control, engine and emission control.” Similar requirements apply to sensor systems monitoring cars, planes and people. SINTEF ICT utilises spinoff technology for applications in all these areas. Here cost is an issue. Therefore it has paid to adapt rather than redesign the sensor, which can then be massproduced at a low cost. An example of a current project is its collaboration with Volvo
NGI is conducting a study for the Norwegian Public Road Authority that employs small-scale seismic equipment, which can be handled from smaller vessels like fishing boats or barges, to map geological conditions for tunnels crossing Norwegian fjords. © NGI
pled with reduction in overheads, the result of which means the adoption of more sophisticated technology and communications on board in order to increase overall efficiency.” Marlink offers on-demand services such as Inmarsat, Iridium and Thuraya as well as its own range of C-band and Ku-band VSAT solutions. With customer satisfaction a top priority, the Dubai operation currently has contracts with around half of the Gulf ’s leading shipping companies. Marlink is the world’s largest maritime VSAT operator and most recently upgraded its global VSAT service benefiting several maritime customer segments including — leisure, commercial transport, oil and gas, cruise and ferry and commercial shipping vessels.
to develop a more reliable particle detector for monitoring the particle filter (soot) for diesel car engines. The recent volcanic eruption in Iceland addresses a potential improvement in safety of air travel. A similar system could be developed for monitoring particle fl ow into the jet engine and resulting wear. The technology is also being adopted for medical uses. SINTEF ICT has developed a system for vital signs monitoring of soldiers for the US Department of Defence. The system is exposed to different climatic conditions: cold, heat and moisture. The same technology applies for monitoring of fi remen, fi rst responders and athletes. “This is just the start of a new silent revolution — SmartWear — the integration of sensors and electronics in our clothing,” said Bendixen. “Not only will this development lead to more safety for workers in harsh environments, but could mean improved life quality and sense of freedom for patients with chronic diseases such as heart failure and diabetes.” Courtesy: Norway Exports SPECIAL REPORT | MAY 13, 2012
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NORWAY REPORT
SEAFOOD TRADE
Seafood trade fair back on the right track This year’s European Seafood Exposition and Seafood Processing Europe is proof that the worldwide seafood industry is back on the right track. At what is the world’s largest seafood gathering, there were reminders of the financial crisis and volcanic ash clouds from Iceland, but there was also a lot that indicated that the economic arrows are pointing in the right direction for most seafood markets
T
he Norwegian pavilion was bigger than ever with 46 companies participating in addition to the organisers of the event Innovation Norway and the Norwegian Seafood Export Council. The Norwegian stands in this hall were among the most visited at the trade fair. There were also a number of other Norwegian seafood related companies spread around the numerous other halls. Arena Nordland had its own pavilion with many companies represented. In addition, Marine Harvest had its own place as usual. Grieg Seafood and a couple of other seafood parties from Norway did as well. There were also more Norwegian participants than usual in the process hall and among them were known fi rms such as First Process, Optimar, Stette, West Pack, Egersund Nett and several others. The hall had many more visitors this year compared to last according to the participants. This was certainly true during the fair’s second day. But even when the aisles were not full of people between the rows of stands it was still seething with life and noise from machines and equipment processing seafood live. Interested participants could see how things worked before moving on to other things. Even though the event had not managed to obtain the newest numbers, there is much to indicate that the total number of visitors is back to the levels they were before the fi nancial crisis. In any case, that was the feedback from the participants in the
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Norwegian pavilion was bigger than ever with 46 companies participating in addition to the arrangers of the event Innovation Norway and the Norwegian Seafood Export Council
SPECIAL REPORT | MAY 13, 2012
most visited halls. Last year at the 19th seafood gathering in a row there were about 24,000 visitors from 140 different countries. Around 1,600 companies from 80 countries participated this year with their own stands in the halls. Last year the volcanic ash from Iceland put a little damper on the event and this lead to a few cancellations at the end. That did not happen this year. For many of the participants at this annual event in Brussels personal relationships are the most important part for them. The European Seafood Exposition and Seafood Processing Eu-
rope are huge social meeting places for everyone that has something to do with the seafood industry. New contacts are made, business cards exchanged and contracts written. In the city centre of Brussels you could see signs that something big was going on in Belgium’s capital. Summer weather lasting for the three-day duration of the fair made it so that most of the outdoor restaurants were packed at night. For many participants they went through three long, hectic days that lasted from early in the morning to late at night. Courtesy: Norway Exports
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