Norway to share oil and gas expertise with Bolivia

[Judi Lynn]

Norway to share oil and gas expertise with Bolivia
21-03-10

Bolivian President Evo Morales received the support of Norwegian authorities in his effort to promote an agreement on climate change and secured a pledge from that country to share its expertise in managing oil and gas resources.

Norway's environment and development minister, Erik Solheim, who invited Morales to Oslo, backed the president's efforts to achieve a broad agreement on climate change. Solheim termed "inspiring" the conclusions of the recent International People's Summit on Climate Change in Cochabamba, Bolivia, in which wealthy nations were asked to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 50 % and commit themselves to limiting the median global temperature increase to no more than 1 degree Celsius by the end of this century.

During a working breakfast and subsequent joint press conference at the University of Oslo, Morales insisted on the need to defend the rights of "Mother Earth," a concept that Solheim said "meshes very well" with Norway's position. Solheim, however, also stressed the need to achieve compromises and consensus and said a pragmatic approach is required to make progress on this issue.

The minister also hailed Morales, the first indigenous president of his Indian-majority Andean nation, as an inspirational figure for native peoples everywhere and described as an impressive "feat" the fact that he was elected to the highest office in Bolivia -- governed by a "very small elite" for more than 500 years -- in a landslide in 2005. He was subsequently re-elected, also by a wide margin -- late last year.

In addition to securing Norway's commitment on climate change, Morales received an offer by that country to share its expertise in the managing its oil and gas resources, including reducing the environmental impact of hydrocarbon production. Morales noted that Norway, one of the world's leading gas and oil exporters, has much to teach Bolivia in terms of how to work with private enterprise while maintaining state control over hydrocarbon resources.

More:
http://www.gasandoil.com/goc/news/ntl102897.htm