The Prime Minister announced plans for a new energy partnership with Norway which will lead to more than 1,600 new jobs in Britain during his visit to the country today. The bulk of the jobs will come from plans for the Norwegian oil services group Aker Solutions to develop its offices in Chiswick Park into an engineering hub, creating 1,300 jobs locally by 2015.

Norway is Europe’s second biggest gas supplier after Russia and is seen as a desirable partner for the UK given its huge reserves, proximity and stable politics. The UK and Norway already have established energy links, with Norway providing much of the UK’s primary energy needs and they are also working together on major renewable projects such as Dogger Bank, the world’s largest offshore wind project.

Speaking during his visit, the Prime Minister said: “I hope that my visit to Oslo will help secure affordable energy supplies for decades to come and enhance investment between our two countries.

“This will mean more collaboration on affordable long-term gas supply, more reciprocal investment in oil, gas and renewable energies and more commercial deals creating thousands of new jobs and adding billions to our economies.” Local MP Mary Macleod commented: “The announcement of this energy partnership with Norway is excellent news for local firm Aker Solutions and will bring more than 1,300 much-welcome jobs to the area. Aker Solutions was attracted back to the UK, and to Chiswick in particular, because of the wealth of highly-skilled engineering professionals living nearby. Chiswick Park provided the ideal location for them and I am delighted that they will be expanding their operations over the coming years.