Ministry of Petroleum and Energy
Terje Aasland (Lab.)
Minister of Petroleum and Energy

The History of Norwegian Hydropower in 5 Minutes
Modern Norway was built and industrialised when we started to utilize rivers and waterfalls to produce electricity. Hydropower is still the backbone of the Norwegian power system, and will remain so in the foreseeable future. More than 100 years after the first hydroelectric power plant was built in Norway, nearly all our electricity production is based on hydropower.

Norway’s oil history in 5 minutes
In the late 1950s, very few people believed that the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) might conceal rich oil and gas deposits. However, the discovery of gas at Groningen in the Netherlands in 1959 caused people to revise their thinking on the petroleum potential of the North Sea. Petroleum activities have contributed significantly to economic growth in Norway, and to the financing of the Norwegian welfare state.
Latest from the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy
What's new
- Norway and Germany take next step in hydrogen cooperation Press release 08/09/2023
- APA 2023: Applicant for production licenses on the Norwegian Continental Shelf Press release 29/08/2023
- Award of licences for CO2 storage on the Norwegian continental shelf News story 18/08/2023
- Proposal for amendments for better control with security of electricity supply Press release 29/06/2023
- The government is facilitating a new ocean industry - seabed mineral activities Press release 20/06/2023
Documents
- Offshore Energy Act Law 29/03/2023
- Meld. St. 33 (2019–2020) - Longship – Carbon capture and storage Report to the Storting 21/09/2020
- The Norwegian Government’s hydrogen strategy Plans/strategy 03/06/2020
- The Government’s action plan for green shipping Plans/strategy 20/06/2019
- Facts 2013 – All you need to know about Norwegian petroleum activities Guidelines/brochures 26/04/2013
Other websites
Contact
E-mail: Postmottak@oed.dep.no
Phone: + 47 22 24 90 90
Address: Postboks 8148 Dep, 0033 Oslo
Visitor address: Akersgata 59, 0033 Oslo