A report by Norwegian researchers suggests coastal communities in northern Norway will feel little benefit for the rich oil and gas finds offshore their communities.

The report, published in late October but publicized by newspaper Aftenposten , says most wealth will channel to the more heavily populated south. Scandoil.com has travelled extensively to the Norwegian north and can confirm Hammerfest LNG’s construction largely involved Aker Kvaerner crews from Bergen in the southwest.

“Local business in the north is simply too sparse and relatively resource-week enterprise,” the paper quoted the report as saying.

The researchers of Fafo Institute for Labour and Social Research present their studies to policy makers and receive some industry funding. Among their findings, researchers say Russia’s nearby gas field, Shtokman, will only impact a few centres in Norway.

North Norway, however, could yet benefit from ENI’s Goliat field, now expected to send its production to a local island landfall. ENI has involved as many local Norwegian suppliers as is resonable and has filled regional hotels with Goliat field-development seminars.

ws@scandoil.com

Tags: Goliat, Shtokman, Snoehvit