The Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA) is changing its name with effect from 1 January 2024 to the Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority. “This new designation points our way forward,” says director general Anne Myhrvold. “We will be a strong and clear safety authority for both existing and forthcoming industrial operations offshore.”

Prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre presented the news of the name change to a joint town hall meeting of the PSA and the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD), which will also be renamed at the New Year.

He emphasised that both agencies contribute to the important work of continuing the development of the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS), not only in the petroleum sector but also for new industries such as carbon transport and storage, offshore wind power and seabed minerals.

Important work

“We’re living in the energy age rather than the oil age,” Gahr Støre observed. “The names of these bodies must reflect who we are and what we’re doing.

“Through these name changes, we acknowledge the important work being done by the directorate and the safety authority in the development of carbon transport and storage, offshore wind and seabed minerals.”

Read: Oljedirektoratet og Petroleumstilsynet bytter navn (in Norwegian only)

Two decades as the PSA

The change of name will occur exactly 20 years after the PSA was created as an independent authority.

“Big changes have occurred since we were established in 2004,” says Myhrvold. “Opportunities for further industrial operations have opened up offshore, and we have received new and wider areas of responsibility.

“These include carbon transport and storage in 2018, renewable energy production offshore (offshore wind) in 2020, seabed minerals in 2022 and expanded responsibilities pursuant to the Norwegian Security Act this year.”

Clear supervisor

She notes that the change in designation will reflect this development. “We cover more than petroleum today, and the new name points the way forward. Our responsibilities will embrace both oil and gas operations and the new industries.

“As the ocean industry safety authority, we’ll provide strong and clear supervision of both existing offshore operations and the new ocean industries which emerge.”

The PSA’s roles and responsibilities

  • The PSA is a government supervisory agency responsible for safety, the working environment, emergency preparedness and security.
  • Its supervisory authority covers petroleum operations across the whole NCS as well as at seven plants on land and associated pipeline systems.
  • The PSA also has supervisory responsibility for renewable energy production offshore, carbon transport and storage, and seabed mineral recovery.
  • The PSA is subject to the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy (MPE)