Activities from the environmental group Greenpeace are
blocking the entrance to the port of Brofjorden located in western Sweden on
the North Sea to call attention to an on-going dispute over the proposed
expansion of one of Sweden’s oil refineries. The Swedish Maritime Authority and
local police have also become involved seeking to resolve the 24-hour standoff.
Greenpeace anchored its 850-ton sailing vessel the Rainbow
Warrior crewed with activists from Greenpeace Nordic at the entrance to the
harbor last evening at around 5:30 p.m. local time. It was timed to coincide
with the arrival of the crude oil tanker Grena Knutsen, which was inbound to
the oil refinery operated by Preem in Lysekil, Sweden. Demonstrators took to
the sailing ship’s launches to circle the oil tanker displaying signs to call
attention to their cause and illuminated the sailing ship.
After attempting to reach Preem’s refinery, the tanker later
anchored outside Brofjorden. At least two other tankers, the Tarnbris and the
Tern Ocean, are reportedly trapped at the refinery as no vessels can currently
navigate safely through the area. The Swedish Maritime Authority temporarily
ordered the waterway closed to all traffic as a further safety precaution.
The protest comes as Sweden’s government is considering a
proposal from the oil company to expand its refinery. Greenpeace is demanding
that Sweden’s prime minister follow the terms of the Paris Climate Accord and
stop the planned expansion of the refinery. They contend that the expansion
would increase CO2 emissions further hindering Sweden’s ability to achieve its
national emissions targets.
This is just the latest in a series of actions trying to
stop the expansion of the oil refinery. In June, Sweden’s courts ruled that
there was no legal grounds to block the expansion which must be approved by the
government. On September 5, Greenpeace’s Rainbow Warrior joined area residents
in also staging a flotilla in the harbor to call attention to their cause.
Preem, the largest oil refiner in Sweden has previously
promised to produce more biofuels and to use advanced technologies, including
carbon capture, to reduce the impact of emissions linked to the operations.