Norway Calls for Strategic Fuel and Food Reserves in Case of War

Norway is talking about creating food and fuel reserves in case of war.

The Norwegian Institute for Defense Studies has submitted a report to the Ministry of Industry recommending that the government create emergency reserves, according to NRK.

The report highlights the shortage of aviation fuel and diesel fuel in warehouses, which may be needed by allied forces operating from Norwegian territory.

The country’s transport infrastructure was also identified as a vulnerability.

“Norway has a lot of vulnerable transport infrastructure, especially in the north,” said Gunnar Birke, a representative of the institute.

The document pays particular attention to the supply of fuel and food.

Norway is dependent on imported diesel fuel, marine gas oil, and aviation fuel. At the same time, there is only one oil refinery in the country — Mongstad.

In the area of food security, the Norwegian Institute for Defense Studies notes that food supplies are vulnerable due to Norway’s dependence on imports.

The authors of the report also note that Ukraine’s experience shows that during wartime, energy supplies become one of the priority targets for attacks.

Recommendations from the report:

• increase output and make national production more flexible;
• strengthen transport infrastructure and emergency power supply capacity;
• establish clearer mechanisms for prioritising between civilian and military needs;

strengthen digital security and international cooperation, especially with the EU and Northern European countries.

The researchers emphasize that these measures must be developed and implemented in close cooperation between the government and business, as well as other key players in the food and fuel supply chains.

Minister of Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth said that the vulnerability of the transport system during crises and war, especially in northern Norway, is already well known.

“It is surprising that more money is not being invested in transport projects in northern Norway. This is where a significant part of future defense activities will be concentrated and developed,” the minister said.

She added that she would address the government in parliament to get answers on what to do next after the report is released.

Per-Willy Amundsen, chair of the Norwegian Parliament’s Control and Constitution Committee, said the government isn’t doing anything in this area.

“Four years have passed since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It seems almost incomprehensible that we have not been able to make any progress during this time,” Amundsen said.

Recently, Norway, following Denmark and Sweden, raised the issue of a European “nuclear umbrella.”