Construction of transformer station at Melkøya in February 2025
Photo: Jonny Engelsvoll
The Snøhvit Future project at Melkøya in Hammerfest will secure continued gas exports and economic development in Northern Norway, while cutting greenhouse gas emissions cost-effectively. Here we explain more about this extensive project. Further down the page, you will also find a selection of questions and answers about the project.
Snøhvit Future will strengthen Norway's position as a reliable and long-term supplier of gas produced with very low greenhouse gas emissions. The project will secure jobs in Hammerfest and energy supply to Europe towards 2050.
In accordance with the authorities' approval, we are planning onshore compression to ensure the flow of gas through the facility from 2028 and electrification from 2030.
Neighbours’ webpage for the Snøhvit Future project
The work on a new electricity grid connection related to the Snøhvit Future project is well underway at Meland. Equinor has launched a dedicated webpage to keep neighbours well informed about the project. (Norwegian only.)
Hammerfest LNG employs about 1,100 people, including ripple effects
6.5 million households
Every day, Hammerfest LNG provides light and heat for 6.5 million homes
On 20 December 2022, Equinor, on behalf of the Snøhvit partnership, Equinor submitted the plan for development and operation (PDO) for Snøhvit Future to the Minister of Petroleum and Energy. On 8 August 2023, Norwegian authorities announced that the project had been approved. Today contracts worth NOK 13 billion have been signed into, and there is high activity at all locations. The start-up of onshore compression is planned for 2028 and the transition to electric operation is scheduled for 2030.
Extending lifespan, jobs, and ripple effects
Snøhvit Future will strengthen Norway's position as a reliable and long-term supplier of natural gas produced with very low greenhouse gas emissions. The project secures jobs in Hammerfest and energy supply to Europe towards 2050.
During the development phase, Snøhvit Future will contribute to significant ripple effects both in Finnmark and the rest of the country. It is expected that about 70% of the value creation will go to Norwegian companies, and more than a third of this will go to Northern Norway, mainly Finnmark. Regional employment during the project period is estimated at close to 1,700 person-years (5,400 nationally).
Hammerfest LNG is a central enterprise in the region with up to 500 employees, 38 apprentices, and between 150-200 contractors/suppliers. Including ripple effects, Hammerfest LNG contributes nearly 1,100 person-years in total (830 in Northern Norway). The partnership in the Snøhvit licence is committed to ensuring that Hammerfest LNG remains competitive and viable even in a low-carbon society.
Significant emission reductions
Norway is to halve CO2 emissions from the production of oil and gas on the Norwegian continental shelf by 2030 (compared with 2005). This is essential for Norway to meet its commitments under the Paris Agreement. The electrification of Hammerfest LNG is the largest single emission-reducing measure for Norway to achieve its climate goals. By replacing the power from the current gas turbines with power from the mainland, we will cut the annual CO2 emissions by 850,000 tonnes, equivalent to two percent of Norway's annual emissions.
About the development solution
The Snøhvit Future project consists of onshore compression and electrification of Hammerfest LNG at Melkøya. Onshore compression will help maintain peak production when the pressure in the reservoirs is reduced, while electrification with power from the mainland will remove significant greenhouse gas emissions from the gas turbines that currently power the plant.
Three large modules will be installed at the facility: compressor, transformer station, and electrode steam boilers, and extensive modification work will also be carried out.
A tunnel is now being constructed to carry power cables from Hyggevatn to Meland. From Meland, sea cables will be installed over to Melkøya.
The electrification of Hammerfest LNG triggers the need for more power to the Melkøya facility. On this basis, Statnett has started the construction of a new 420 kV power line from Skaidi to Hyggevatn.
Main suppliers
Aibel has been awarded a contract for modification work at Hammerfest LNG. The contract has a total value of approximately NOK 8 billion.
Examples of subcontractors to Aibel:
Consto has been awarded the largest of these contracts, for building and civil works. Consto is headquartered in Tromsø and has offices in both Alta and Hammerfest. The contract is expected to employ 200-300 person-years over two years, not only for Consto's employees but also for several of the company's partners in Northern Norway, such as Larsen Maskin og Transport.
Rapp Bomek in Bodø delivers fire doors.
Bilfinger in Hammerfest provides scaffolding.
Parat Halvorsen in Flekkefjord delivers electrode steam boilers.
Momek in Mo i Rana carries out construction of steel structures for Aibel.
Polarkonsult in Harstad is set to deliver system documentation.
Norconsult delivers engineering services.
Hammerfest Industriservice provides prefabrication of steel structures.
Nordic Crane and Crane Norway supply cranes.
Printhuset in Hammerfest delivers printing services.
Multiconsult has been awarded a contract for the design of the grid connection associated with the Snøhvit Future project. The contract is valued at NOK 38 million and employs staff from Alta in the north to Fredrikstad in the south. The design team is led from Multiconsult's office in Tromsø, and the company has established a new office in Hammerfest.
Nexans will supply and install power and fibre optic cables. Parts of the power cable are produced in Halden and the fibre optic cable in Rognan in Nordland.
LNS (Leonhard Nilsen og sønner) from Andøy municipality has been awarded the contract for building the grid connection (tunnel from Hyggevatn to Meland and landfall on land).
Examples of subcontractors:
Ølen Betong in Hammerfest delivers concrete.
Viggo Eriksen in Hammerfest provides construction work.
Gagama Elektro in Hammerfest delivers electrical work.
Alta Anlegg delivers cast-in-place concrete.
Sjøentreprenøren in Bergen is carrying out marine work towards Melkøya and Meland, and for the sea fill at Meland.
Entreprenørservice from Oslo is drilling tunnels for the submarine cables.
