Norway Appoints New Energy Minister

Norway has appointed Tina Bru as its new minister of energy and petroleum, replacing Sylvi Listhaug.

Bru is a member of parliament for Norway’s centre-right Conservative Party, representing the coastal county of Rogaland, where the oil and gas industry is the biggest employer. She holds a bachelor’s degree in management from the BI Stavanger business school, and previously served as a member of the parliament’s standing committee on energy and the environment.

“The petroleum industry is Norway’s most important industry, and I live in a county that employs several thousand people in the industry,” Bru said at a ceremony on January 24 marking her appointment. “I also very much look forward to working with renewable energy, which will play an important role in the transition to a low-emission society.”

Her predecessor Listhaug hailed from the right-wing Progress Party. She stepped down on January 24 after just over a month in the role, following her party's decision to quit the coalition government.

Earlier this month Norway issued oil and gas licences under its latest Awards in Predefined Areas (APA) round. Some 28 companies were awarded 69 licences in more explored areas of the Norwegian shelf.