On Monday, around 200 climate activists, including Sweden’s Greta Thunberg, blocked Norway’s largest oil refinery, calling for an end to the nation’s oil sector, according to organizers and police.
Extinction Rebellion protesters blocked the road leading to Bergen’s Mongstad refinery on Norway’s southwest coast, while kayaks and sailboats obstructed the port entrance.
“We’re here because it’s evident there’s no future in oil. Fossil fuels cause death and destruction,” Thunberg stated, adding that oil producers like Norway “have blood on their hands.”
Burning fossil fuels emits carbon, contributing to global warming.
Police reported they were monitoring the situation starting at 9:00 am (0700 GMT).
Activists plan to continue their protests across Norway throughout the week.
Mongstad refinery is owned by Equinor, a Norwegian oil giant, mostly state-owned.
Activists are urging Norwegian politicians to propose “a plan to phase out oil and gas.”
Norway, the largest oil and gas producer in Western Europe, often faces criticism for its fossil fuel production.
Oslo argues that the industry provides jobs and expertise, and emphasizes the need for stable energy supplies to Europe.
Equinor plans to maintain its oil production at 1.2 million barrels daily until 2035 and expects to produce 40 billion cubic meters of gas annually by 2035.
