«In connection with the crisis in Ukraine, Russian intelligence service has information needs it wants covered. Our oil and gas sector is of special interest”, Director of the Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) Benedicte Bjørnland says. “We are a major supplier of oil and gas and other states want to know what kind of capacities we have.”
The crisis in Ukraine has not led to a higher level of activity from foreign intelligence services, just a shift in direction, Bjørnland says: “We have for years seen a stable and high pressure from intelligence services, but now the focus is somewhat different.” Bjørnland underlines that also other states are interested in Norwegian petroleum activities, but she only mentions Russia by name this time, Teknisk Ukeblad writes, citing NTB.
According to Bjørnland, foreign intelligence officers often operate under cover of being diplomats or journalists, but they can also get their hand on sensitive information by getting access to computer networks. “Intelligence officers orientate towards oil and gas suppliers and other actors in the industry, but also employees at technology companies, research institutions and public administration can be of interest.”
The PST director calls on people in the oil and gas industry to be careful with what they send via e-mails or talk about on the phone. “Anyone with access to relevant and attractive information is in principle interesting for foreign intelligence services.”
Also in 2008 PST warned against Russian spies. The increased activity from Russian intelligence service was at that time put in connection with the Norwegian focus on the Arctic. The Russian Embassy refused the claims as groundless and called them “a reminder from the Cold War”.
In 2013 the Norwegian Police Security Service, the Intelligence Service and the National Security Authority for the first time prepared a common, open threat evaluation.
