Norway's CO2 Emissions Hit Record High In 2007, Up 3% - Reuters

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OSLO, May 13 (Reuters) - Norway's emissions of greenhouse gases rose almost 3 percent in 2007 to a record high, boosted by the opening of a liquefied natural gas plant by state-controlled StatoilHydro (STL.OL: Quote, Profile, Research), Statistics Norway said on Tuesday.

Emissions by the world's number five oil exporter climbed to the equivalent of 55.0 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2007 from 53.5 million in 2006 and were 11 percent above 1990 levels, the benchmark for the U.N.'s Kyoto Protocol on global warming.

"Following two years of decrease, emissions of greenhouse gases increased by almost 3 percent in 2007. Norwegian emissions have never been higher," Statistics Norway said in a statement. The previous record was 54.8 million in 2004.

Flaring of natural gas by StatoilHydro at a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant at Melkoya in Arctic Norway, part of the Snoehvit field development that opened in late 2007, was the main contributor. "Slightly more than 1.6 million tonnes carbon dioxide were emitted from Melkoya in 2007, of which the main part was due to flaring due to production difficulties," it said.

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http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssEnergyNews/idUSL1349682420080513