The international high-level conference for the Launch of the Longship Project

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Your Royal Highness,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Welcome to Oslo – and to the celebration of a major step forward for Europe and the global climate.

Today, we mark a defining moment: Longship is in operation. Or as they say in the Opera House: The curtain has risen.

This is not just a milestone for Norway. It is a breakthrough for carbon capture and storage in Europe – and a beacon of what is possible when industry and government work together.

Let me be clear: If we are to meet the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement, we need carbon capture and storage. We need real projects. We need progress on the ground.

That is what Longship represents.

This project is the centrepiece of Norway’s CCS efforts.

It is also Europe’s first full value chain for carbon capture, transport and storage. From Heidelberg Materials in Brevik – through Northern Lights and out to safe storage under the seabed.

It is happening. Not on paper – but in real life.

More than 1.2 million working hours have gone into building the capture facility in Brevik. The cement production didn’t stop. Now, a factory over 100 years old has become a symbol of a new future.

We are proud of the people and companies who made this possible. Heidelberg Materials, Northern Lights – thank you for your courage, your commitment, and for showing what leadership looks like in practice.

And thank you to Gassnova for your support and expertise.

CCS is not new to us. Norway has over 25 years of experience storing CO₂ safely on the continental shelf. We were one of the first countries in the world to introduce a carbon tax.

We took early risks. We invested in technology. And we have used our best people to solve difficult problems. That has built knowledge – and trust – in carbon capture and storage.

At Sleipner, Snøhvit and Technology Center Mongstad, we developed solutions. With Longship, we bring them to scale. And we are not stopping here.

Northern Lights has now taken the investment decision to expand capacity from 1.5 to 5 million tonnes annually. I am happy to announce that today the Ministry of Energy has approved the development plan for phase 2 of Northern Lights. And the government is supporting a second capture project – at Hafslund Celsio in Oslo.

We know CCS is costly. But we also know that in some sectors, there are no real alternatives. That is why we are looking into new tools and measures to support more projects.

Because CCS is not just a Norwegian ambition – it is a European necessity.

Ladies and gentlemen,

This is not only about emissions. It is also about opportunities.

A new industrial future is taking shape – together with our oil and gas industry, our land-based industries, and our partners across Europe.

We are building something new – a climate solution that works. That creates value. That others can learn from.

And our message is clear: We want to share our experience. We want to cooperate. And we want to move faster – together.

The green transition is not easy. But it is possible. And today, in this beautiful Opera House, we can say with confidence:

It is already underway. This is the first act of hopefully many acts.

Thank you.