Equinor-top acknowledges the loss of reputation. Here is the crisis plan. – E24

– I think it has negatively affected our reputation, says Irene Rummelhoff. She is Executive Vice President of Equinor and is responsible for the company’s onshore facilities.

The ground events have been featured this fall:

Rummelhoff now announces comprehensive measures:

– Here we must implement a plan to increase security, he says.

And add:

– Two fires in two months is unacceptable. We have to take strong action.

Four bars

You have diligently passed the last 24 hours. In meetings with local commanders, security representatives and unions, they have proposed a series of measures.

In front of Aftenposten / E24, launch the plan:

• Investigation of incidents.
• A security timeout. All ground facility managers and employees should reflect on incidents and actions.
• Project to ensure that orders and measures are followed with sufficient quality.
• Identify if they have the appropriate competence and ability.

The goal is better management

When asked if there had to be two more fires before the competition had to be mapped, she responds:

– This is a continuous job. Now we have chosen to dive deep into it.

– How will the measures be implemented?

– The goal is better control and a higher level of security. Better management. We must strengthen the culture of safety.

A report on the Mongstad oil spill suggests that low margins, cuts and financial constraints have come at the expense of water purification and maintenance.

– Have you shaved too much staff for good maintenance?

– We will learn from this in further research. That is what we have to get to the bottom of.

– I think people react to this.

It burned fiercely at Equinor’s Melkøya gas plant in September. Just days before the fire, the company was reprimanded by the Norwegian Petroleum Safety Authority. The message was clear: the plant does not follow deviations well enough.

The Bellona environmental base connects the long-term failure in maintenance with the larger fire.

– Has sufficient attention been paid to maintenance and safety?

– We are now awaiting the investigation report. It is too early to tell. We will get to the bottom of this, we must have quality in that work.

She acknowledges that this has implications for Equinor’s reputation.

– I think people react to this. We do that too. We show this through measurements. I hope people see that the incidents have not caused harm to people.

– How serious is the loss of reputation of the state oil company?

– We work hard with safe and efficient operation every day. We will do this in a proper and orderly manner, with quality. The people around us should see that. We depend on it.

– The visible tends to be prioritized

Last week, the Norwegian Environment Agency harshly criticized the company. Also earlier this year they called the management to the carpet. The audit feared Equinor would not take the external environment seriously. It arose in relation to the oil spills in Mongstad that are being investigated.

– Have you focused enough on the external environment?

– We have focused a lot on environmental considerations. We work to monitor daily emissions to the air and sea. However, in terms of emissions, we may not understand the current regulations.

– Has visible environmental damage exceeded invisible environmental damage?

– The visible tends to have more priority. It is not unnatural.