-Petroleum will give golden age for northern Norway

-Northern Norway enters an unusually interesting 50-years period, which is unprecedented in the region, Mr. Johnsen says to newspaper Nordlys. –The petroleum industry will lift the knowledge level and industrial capacities in the region, he adds. In an interview with the newspaper, the oil and gas leader says the businesses in the region are preparing well for the new times. -The High North could become the most interesting part of Norwegian petroleum activities in the course of the next 50 years, Mr. Johnsen maintains. The former Statoil CEO highlights that also the vulnerable waters outside Lofoten and Vesterålen should be opened for oil and gas exploration and that this will have no negative consequences for fisheries in the region. -Since the very start, the Norwegian petroleum industry has been more environmentally friendly and environmentally oriented than in any other part of the world. In the course of 40 years, we have not had a single outburst, he underlines. In the interview, Johnsen also expresses bewilderment about the strong opposition against a 100 percent offshore solution for the Goliat field in the Barents Sea. Regional politicians have threatened to hamper field development unless the oil is landed to regional facilities. Operator company ENI however maintains that a full offshore production and processing solution is the only viable alternative.