Oil firms look to Norway

The Bonga is being fitted out on the River Tyne

A trade event is being held on Tyneside on Friday to help UK offshore companies bid for oil and gas contracts potentially worth millions of pounds.

The Share Fair event, opened by energy minister Brian Wilson, is being held at the Offshore Energy Centre, Wallsend, Tyneside, and

Mr Wilson was also due to tour the largest vessel ever seen on the Tyne, the Bonga Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO).

Eight major Norwegian oil and gas companies are participating - highlighting business opportunities in Norway for UK contractor and supply firms.

Companies from the north-east of England hope to either generate new business in Norway, or widen their existing Norwegian client base.

The Norwegian Ambassador, Tarald Brautaset, is also due to attend.

Installation work

Mr Wilson said: "Share Fair offers great business opportunities to UK companies operating in the vibrant market of the North Sea.

"An impressive range of Norwegian companies are attending the current series of Share Fairs taking place over the next 18 months, including the event in Wallsend.

"The information gleaned from their presentations will be extremely useful to all those attending."

It follows a similar Share Fair held in Stavanger in April where ten UK companies presented to Norwegian firms.

The Bonga hull was towed to the AMEC yard at Wallsend in 2002, and is undergoing installation work on the River Tyne.