The strike begins at a time when oil and gas prices are high and natural gas supplies in Europe are already tight following Russia’s declining exports. Workers are demanding wage increases to compensate for rising inflation. Key people will be taken out of production, which will first affect the platforms Gudrun, Oserbeg, Oserbeg Aust and Sør, reports Reuters. Staff at Aasta Hansteen will also go on strike during the night towards Tuesday.
If no solution is reached between the parties, the strike will also hit Gullfaks A, Gullfaks C and Sleipner from 9 July, all platforms will be operated by Equinor.
The strike will mean that about 13 percent of the total Norwegian gas production will disappear, and oil production will decrease by 130,000 barrels per day, according to Norwegian Oil and Gas.
The Norwegian government has said in a statement that they are following the conflict “closely”. They can also go in and stop the strike if there are exceptional circumstances.