Equinor, Norway’s state-owned energy company, is facing a legal dispute with the Økokrim tax authority after being fined NOK 220 million, along with a forfeiture claim for NOK 500 million. The case revolves around emissions and discharges that occurred over decades at its refining plant in Mongstad. in Mongstad.
Equinor challenges Okokrim’s fine for historic emissions
According to the company’s version, it was Equinor itself that identified the environmental deviations, conducted thorough internal investigations and notified the authorities voluntarily. Subsequently, it implemented measures to correct the emissions and discharges.
For its part, Økokrim argues that the environmental incidents were due to a lack of proper maintenance of the infrastructure over an extended period of time, which would have allowed Equinor to reduce operating costs. However, the company strongly rejects this interpretation and claims that no concrete evidence of criminal negligence has been presented.
The case will be resolved in court
In the absence of consensus, Equinor has chosen to challenge the penalty notice and take the case to court. The law firm Hjort AS will represent the company in the legal process. The company assures that it will continue to cooperate with the authorities and reaffirms its commitment to responsible environmental management practices. environmental management practices.
This conflict could have important implications for the regulation of the industrial sector in Norway, setting precedents for corporate responsibility for historical emissions. Meanwhile, the Mongstad refinery remains under scrutiny, in a context where environmental compliance is gaining increasing weight in public opinion and national politics.
Source and photo: Equinor