Havtil Director General Sigve Knudsen introduced the Main Issue when he opened this year's senior executives conference on 30 October.
“Norway is preparing for war. We of course hope that this does not come to pass, but it could actually happen, and, at the very least, a great deal could occur on the spectrum between where we currently find ourselves and war. We are preparing for war because that could perhaps be one of the best ways in which to avoid war," Knudsen said.
He noted that the Norwegian government authorities and businesses have been working over time to strengthen emergency preparedness and that the Total Defence Year has brought particular attention to this issue in 2026.
“We are taking this to heart. We are getting better and better prepared, but we still have a long way to go.
We too, when required.
Havtil’s Main Issue for 2027 is based on the premise that Norway is facing its most serious security-policy situation since the Second World War.
The high level of security in Norwegian petroleum activities is of fundamental importance to the country. At the same time, the industry must ensure it maintains a correspondingly high level of security and that it views safety and security in conjunction with one another.
Companies, organisations, and government authorities need to keep themselves up-to-date on the threat and risk landscapes and work to address vulnerabilities. The goal is for Norway to be able to maintain operations, energy, and supply chains, even in the event of the country being impacted by serious incidents.
Resilience is a key concept of the Main Issue.
“The most important battle is taking place right now. It requires dedication, insight, determination, and knowledge," Knudsen said.
A clear leadership responsibility
Knudsen emphasized that the Main Issue also brings with it a clear expectation upon industry leaders.
“Industry leaders bear a serious and heavy responsibility. When it really matters, the various parties have to stand together side by side.”
At the same time, he emphasised the importance of good cooperation between employers, employees, and the authorities. In a time characterised by increased uncertainty, well-functioning cooperation between the different parties becomes even more important.
Knudsen was clear when asked what he expects top executives to do when they return to their companies:
“The most important point is to grasp the seriousness of the situation. It will then become clear that there is a need to establish security at every level - within one’s own organisation and throughout the contractual chains, covering both physical and cyber aspects - and to build the capacity to withstand whatever will come.”
He also emphasised his choice of words:
“Notice that I said “will come,” not “whatever may come,” but “what will come.”
Havtil will highlight the Main Issue throughout 2027.