During March 4-6, the New Strategy Center (NSC) and the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) organized a study visit to Norway, taking place in the cities of Bergen, Haugesund, and Oslo. The visit is part of the SIDMI project – Strategic Initiative for the Defence of Critical Maritime Infrastructure, implemented by NSC in collaboration with NUPI and dedicated to the exchange of best practices between Romania and Norway in the field of offshore critical infrastructure protection. This initiative is particularly relevant as Romania is set to become the largest gas producer in the European Union starting in 2027 and can leverage Norway’s extensive experience in managing offshore resources.
In line with the project’s objectives, this study visit involved the participation of NSC experts alongside representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Ministry of Energy. Funded through the Romania-Norway Bilateral Relations Fund 2014-2021, the project is part of a long-term collaboration between NUPI and NSC, focused on strengthening the understanding of security challenges in the North Sea, the Arctic region, and the Black Sea area. This is particularly significant given the dynamic geopolitical context and the wide range of threats faced by NATO’s entire Eastern Flank, from the Svalbard Archipelago to the Black Sea.
The first visit took place at Equinor’s headquarters in Sandsli, where the delegation participated in a tour of the facilities dedicated to Surveillance and Emergency Situations. Equinor, a company majority-owned by the Norwegian state, is the main operator of hydrocarbon exploitation on the Norwegian continental shelf. The program continued with a visit to the Kårstø processing complex, the largest gas and LNG (liquefied natural gas) export facility in Europe and the third-largest in the world, playing a strategic role in Europe’s energy infrastructure.
On the second day, the delegation traveled to the Pipeline Repair and Subsea Intervention Center (PRSI), which is essential for the maintenance and security of submarine infrastructure. This was followed by a visit to Gassco’s headquarters in Haugesund, the main operator of Norway’s gas transportation system, which facilitates exports to Europe and plays a key role in the region’s energy security.
The visit concluded in Oslo, where, with the support of H.E. Cristian Bădescu, Romania’s ambassador to Norway, a meeting was organized between representatives of Romanian governmental institutions and their Norwegian counterparts. This meeting contributed to strengthening the strategic dialogue between the two countries.
