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The Johan Sverdrup oil field, which is due to be officially opened by Norwegian officials next week, has already become western Europe’s largest rig - capable of producing over 300,000 barrels per day. Norway’s newest oil field has already polarised opinion as many have said the plant should never have been built as the planet is facing a climate change crisis. But the Government and field operator Equinor have insisted the plant is much greener than its predecessors, with 80-90 percent less carbon dioxide emissions compared to a standard development employing gas turbines.

Instead of being powered by gas turbines, the field is powered by electricity from shore. Kjell-Borge Freiberg, Norway’s oil minister, said: “It’s an incredibly important project for Norway. “We are, on average, best at getting oil out with the lowest emissions. He added that carbon dioxide emissions per barrel from Johan Sverdrup were just 700g versus a global average of 18kg a day.

Norway has opened its latest oil field

Similarly, Rune Nedregaard, head of the Johan Sverdrup project said the plant’s existence is needed - even if the world is headed towards more renewable energy. He said: “We have fields here that will produce for at least 50 years into the future. “When you look into the energy forecasts, there will still be a need for oil in 2050. “We have a part to play, to be part of the solution with low-carbon oil production.” READ MORE: BP begins pumping MILLIONS of barrels of oil in MAJOR UK find

The Johan Sverdrup oil field is already Europe's largest rig

The new oil field has been criticised by climate change activists

The site was discovered in 2010, in an area that had been disregarded by most explorers. But it soon became apparent it was a giant field, one that promises to earn about Nkr900 billion (£77 billion) for the Norwegian state over its 50-year lifetime. It is Norway’s biggest discovery since the 1970s and holds about 2.7 billion barrels of oil. The field will produce about 450,000 barrels per day of oil from next summer and at its peak, after a second phase of development, should reach 660,000.

The field will produce about 450,000 barrels per day of oil from next summer

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