It is a weird contradiction: as a rich oil and gas nation, Norway could be out of essential fuels in 20 days. For whatever reason, the Norwegian government reduced the fuel readiness down from 90 days back in 2007, against advice of the International Energy Agency (IEA). This means that if the current conflict in the Persian Gulf continues, diesel and kerosene could be rare goods in the Scandinavian country.
Norwegian broadcasting company NRK published this news earlier this week. While Norway’s neighbours Sweden and Finland kept their 90-days stores of essential fuels, Oslo decided otherwise. That was back in the days when Norway deemed itself self-sufficient for its fuel needs. This, however, does no longer seem to be the case. Moreover, the country has only one operational refinery at Mongstadt, 50 kilometres (31 miles) north of Bergen.
Norway’s energy Achilles heel
However, Norway seems to be having enough petrol, but for transport, the military and aviation the shortages might painful, as the country is depending on imports. As a natural gas and hydropower exporting nation, the Achilles heel is in the energy it cannot produce enough of itself. | © 2026 Marcel Burger, nordicreporter.com. Featured photo: Mongstadt Refinery, by Nina Aldin Thune (CC)
