Bergen Oil Industry

Bergen is host to part of the country's large oil industry, as well as deep sea operations. This region is the largest energy producer in Europe, with the vast oil fields off the coast making Norway the world's second largest net exporter of crude oil.

The region is home to several of Europe's largest oil and gas refineries (like Mongstad, picture below).

Natural gas is piped to Continental Europe where it meets around 10 % of total European demand for gas, and large new industrial zones have emerged where North Sea gas is used in development, operation and production. The oil industry accounts directly for over 16,000 jobs in Hordaland, and Bergen is very much the administrative centre of the Norwegian oil sector. The country's two largest oil companies - Statoil and Norsk Hydro - have no fewer than 1,400 employees in Bergen working on the operation and maintenance of oil and gas fields on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.

Its harbours are used by everything from small pleasure vessels to cruise ships and cargo vessels, and is the base of many of the country's fishing vessels.

Bergen Facts 1

Bergen Facts 2