Arctic offshore meeting set

The High North Center of Business at Norway’s Bodø University is hosting the third annual “dialogue and tour” meeting May 3 to 10 in the city of Bodø. Directed at fishermen, community leaders, Norwegian and Alaska Natives, scientists, energy companies, government officials, students from the United States, Norway and Russia, and environmental groups, these meetings provide an opportunity to discuss stakeholder viewpoints and foster dialogue on issues related to the Arctic development.

This year’s meeting will focus on socioeconomic issues and the benefits of the development of the Arctic region.

“The offshore oil and gas and fishing industries are two diverse, but closely tied, industries that provide significant resources … for the communities and economies of both Alaska and Norway,” the organizers say. “The Arctic region, including the Barents and Chukchi seas, is poised to be an essential and secure hydrocarbon producing area in a time of ever-increasing global energy demand. … Developing a dialogue between these two industries and other stakeholders will provide further economic opportunities for citizens of the Arctic high north.”

The event includes a Norwegian coast cruise, culminating in a visit to StatoilHydro’s new liquefied natural gas production facilities for the Barents Sea Snohvit field.

“In addition to the energy-fisheries dialogue, there will be opportunities for meetings and discussions between participants as well as lectures to Norwegian and Russian students of the Energy Management Program,” said Andrew Browning, adjunct professor of energy management at Bodo University. “The lectures will focus on issues related to the high north development such as creation of regulatory frameworks, fostering community relations and global initiatives on sustainable development.”

—Alan Bailey