ENERGY SECURITY DISCUSSIONS WITH NORWAY AND THE NETHERLANDS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83M00914R001000060061-2
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 17, 2008
• Sequence Number: 61
• Publication Date: January 4, 1982
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2008/06/17: CIA-RDP83M00914RO01000060061-2
]DEPARTMENT OF STATE
INFORMATION MEMORANDUM
January -A, 1982
MfIDENTIAL
TO: SIG Members on Eas -West Economic Relations
FROM: E. Myer Rashish.
SUBJECT: Energy Security Discussions with Norway
and the Netherlands
In early December I had the opportunity
to follow up my discussions on the Siberian pipeline
with the Norwegians and Dutch -- the most important
natural gas producers in Europe. I stressed that the
US remains very concerned about the security implications
of increased European dependence on Sovvietagasvandnd
that, in our view, other econoarQa~vailable.
more secure sources of energy
My discussions with the Norwegian Energy Minister
revealed that the Norwegians are laying the groundwork
for an acceleration of the pace of natural gas
are actively considering development
development. They
plans, including a pipeline from the Tromsa field
through the heart of Sweden, tolbring to heiabunda,thowever,
reserves to market. They are
y and
comm.ruia development
anduin line Cwithlthelconservative
government's commercially aim to rely on market principles. Social
and economic concerns continue to be important Norwegians
constraints to more rapid development, bu
are weighing these national European allies. ae nee skedd
to provide gas to their in
about their role as a supplier of natural gas
an emergency, the Norwegians replied that it is not
economically justifiable for them to build costly
spare capacity. The capacity they build must be for
steady export.
The Dutch were interested in supporting measures
gas security.
which would increase European natural shut
They said that they were planning
considerable portion of the remaining reserves inhtheir
Groningen field as a strategic rserve, short term revenue.
fact that this would mean foregoing
State Dept. review completed.
UUNMUNItAL-
GDS (12/31/87)
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While these reserves do represent an important and
easily accessible source of gas, the Dutch did admit,
however, that this spare capacity was insufficient to
meet all European gas demands should Soviet gas be
suspended.
it became apparent during our meetings that given
lower future European natural gas demand, most of
the Soviet gas imports contemplated might not be
necessary should the Dutch decide to slow down the
phase out of their gas exports (now targetted for 1995),
while at the same time Norway accelerated the development
of their vast reserves.
In light of this possibility, prompt consultations
between the Dutch and Norwegians on the issuefand
future European gas markets, their export potential
possible contribution to a European-wide safety net
seem highly desirable. We explored this possibility with
each country separately and learned that while they had
engaged in preliminary consultations last Spring this
process had not been continued due in part to neewch
governments in both countries. At our urging,
agreed that bilateral talks (with possible participation
by the US) would be useful. We plan to facilitate
these talks and participate in any appropriate
CONFIDENTIAL
Approved For Release 2008/06/17: CIA-RDP83M00914RO01000060061-2