Norwegian oil, gas employees begin walkout, reducing productivity

(MENAFN) Norwegian offshore workers went on strike on Tuesday, reducing oil and gas output, according to the union spearheading the walkout, which was reported by Reuters.

The walkout, in which employees are demanding wage increases to compensate for growing inflation, takes place in the midst of high oil and gas prices, with supplies of Natural gas to Europe particularly restricted following Russian export cuts.

Audun Ingvartsen, the leader of the Lederne trade union, stated in an interview, “The strike has begun.”

As a consequence of a strike, operator Equinor has begun shutting down three North Sea oilfield, the firm announced on Tuesday.

The Norwegian labor ministry maintained that it was "closely monitoring" the situation. If there are extraordinary conditions, it may intervene to prevent a strike.

Equinor maintained on Tuesday that oil and gas output will be lowered by 89,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd), with gas output accounting for 27,500 boepd.

The strike will deepen the country's gas output drop to 292,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, or 13% of output, on Wednesday, according to NOG on Sunday, in accordance with Equinor's projection.

Equinor stated that from Wednesday, oil output will be reduced by 130,000 barrels per day, in accordance with the lobby's prior projection.

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