Norwegian police investigate drone sighting at Kaarstoe gasworks

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OSLO – Norwegian police on Friday investigated reports of a drone that was seen hovering over the Kaarstoe gas processing plant in southwestern Norway, in potential violation of the protocols of security, the Stavanger Aftenblad newspaper reported.

Local police were not immediately available for comment.

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Norway’s military Home Guard has been stationed in Kaarstoe and other major energy export facilities since authorities tightened security at Norwegian oil and gas facilities following the Sept. 26 Nord Stream leaks.

Even before the Nord Stream incidents, the Norwegian Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) warned energy companies to be vigilant of unidentified drones.

Police responded Thursday to a threat made by telephone against the Nyhamna gas plant, which, along with Kaarstoe and a handful of other Norwegian sites, is among Europe’s largest energy export facilities.

Norway is now Europe’s leading gas supplier after a sharp reduction in flows from Russia. (Reporting by Terje Solsvik Editing by David Goodman)