Factsheet for measure
NO-2026-20/4225
– measures in Norway
Security of fuel supply in a crisis
Beredskapslagring av drivstoff
Background information
Although concerns about Norway's fuel preparedness predated the crisis following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in late February/March 2026, the surge in fuel prices ignited a debate on national security of fuel supply. A report from the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI), published in March 2026, had pointed out that Norway's national fuel reserves were expected to last 20 days, while countries like Sweden and Finland hold reserves for 90 days. Norway is a significant net exporter of oil and therefore has no storage obligation under the IEA regulations. However, FFI's report concluded that war or crisis in Norway and its neighbouring areas could cause serious disruptions to the supply of food and fuel. The low reserve level in Norway was raised by the Progress Party (FrP) in Parliament, and the discussion fed into a larger debate on national preparedness.
• Birkemo, G. A., Hübert, L., & Grunnan, T. (2026). Nasjonal forsyningssikkerhet i krise og krig – sårbarheter, konsekvenser og tiltak for mat- og drivstofforsyningen (FFI-Rapport 26/010). Forsvarets forskningsinstitutt.
Content of measure
The war in the Middle East made the question of fuel storage for national security topical in March 2026. The government acknowledged the problem but emphasised that there was no acute shortage. According to the government, the 2006 regulation on emergency storage would be revised and sent out for consultation during the year, and the only Norwegian fuel-production plant, at Mongstad, had increased jet-fuel production and could cover Norwegian needs.
In connection with the revision of the national budget in May 2026, the governing Labour Party (Ap) and the former coalition partner, the Centre Party, joined forces on a proposal in Parliament's energy committee for the government to propose increased ambitions for diesel and jet-fuel storage capacity, including assessing options for 61 and 90 days of storage. Ninety days would match the Nordic neighbours' storage capacity, while 61 days is what the IEA recommends for oil-producing countries. Four million kroner (€372,000 as of 29 May 2026) was placed in the Revised National Budget to study the expansion, Norway's limited refining capacity and the need to secure the Armed Forces and critical functions in a crisis.
In Norway, the private fuel companies are responsible for maintaining and financing the required emergency stocks. The fuel sector's industry association, Drivkraft Norge, supported the move to increase emergency storage but insisted on a clear state role. The association argued that the market for road fuel was declining, and that making large investments in new storage capacity would be commercially demanding.
Use of measure
Four million kroner (€372,000 as of 29 May 2026) was placed in the Revised National Budget to study the expansion of fuel storage.
Target groups
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Workers
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Businesses
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Citizens
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Does not apply to workers
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Other businesses
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Does not apply to citizens
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Actors and funding
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Actors
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Funding
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National government
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National funds
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Social partners
Social partners' role in
designing the measure
and form of involvement:
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Trade unions
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Employers' organisations
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Role
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No involvement as case not in social partner domain
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No involvement as case not in social partner domain
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Form
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Not applicable
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Not applicable
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Social partners' role in the
implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
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No involvement
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Main level of involvement: N/A
Involvement
The social partners were not involved in introducing or implementing the measure.
Views and reactions
In April 2026, the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO) warned that a fuel shortage would affect the ability of businesses to maintain their operations, and hence society as a whole.
NHO proposed three steps to improve national preparedness during a crisis:
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Gradually stricter requirements for fuel storage, with more and larger storage facilities across the country.
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Closer cooperation with neighbouring countries and Europe to secure supplies in crisis situations.
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Binding public-private collaboration, in which the authorities have the main responsibility for planning, while the business community contributes expertise and capacity.
Erik Lahnstein, the CEO of NHO Aviation, argued in May that the production of aviation fuel was strategically important, and framed the insufficient control over the entire value chain in a Nordic and European perspective.
During the spring of 2026, the trade-union side was largely absent from the debate on fuel storage. The Confederation of Vocational Unions (YS) made a statement in April 2026, and the leader of the confederation, Hans-Erik Skjæggerud, said that the lack of emergency fuel stocks was a predictable crisis that the government should have addressed earlier, and that the present debate should be a wake-up call. The confederation found that the lack of emergency preparedness was a problem in many sectors.
Sources
