A large-scale demonstration led by the extremist left-wing Extinction Rebellion (XR Norge) disrupted operations at the Norwegian Mongstad oil refinery on Monday morning, August 18th, with protesters blocking several roads and staging actions both on land and at sea. Equinor Mongstad is Norway’s largest refinery, producing mainly petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel.
Police reported that ten protesters entered the safety zone around the refinery using kayaks and a boat. They were ordered to stay away, but some did not comply, and eventually the police intervened and removed kayakers.
Extinction Rebellion declared the protest to be “the largest action in Norwegian history.” Campaign leader Lea Wiggen stated: “We are here to demand that the Norwegian government and all Norwegian parties come up with a concrete and serious phase-out plan [for fossil fuels] right now.”
Swedish professional activist Greta Thunberg also joined the action, issuing sharp criticism of Norway’s role in global oil and gas production. “We are here because there is no future in oil. Fossil fuels lead to death and destruction,” Thunberg said in a press release. “Norway has an enormous amount of blood on its hands.”
Norwegian Conservative Party MP Ove Trellevik called the protests a “gift package” to Russian President Vladimir Putin, alluding to Norway’s crucial role as an exporter of natural gas to Europe. “They should be ashamed. They are giving Putin a gift package of dimensions with such a protest,” he told reporters. While affirming his support for “democracy, openness and freedom of expression,” Trellevik argued the activists’ approach was “very aggressive.”
State-owned energy company Equinor, owner of the Mongstad refinery, confirmed that production continues despite the disruption. “Various measures have been taken to ensure proper operations,” press spokesperson Ellen Maria Skjelbæk said.
Extinction Rebellion Norway has announced continued protests in Norway throughout the week.
