Norwegian interests in the disputed pipeline in the US

Native American dancers perform during a peaceful demonstration near the Dakota Access Pipeline construction site north of Cannon Ball, North Dakota, U.S. October 29, 2016. REUTERS/Josh Morgan

Indigenous people protested on the weekend against an oil pipeline in North Dakota in the United States. The Sami Parliament requested the Oil Fund to consider withdrawing investments in companies that are responsible for the construction and operation.

According to newspaper Aftenposten, the oil fund has invested 6.7 billion Kroner in three companies that are responsible for building, owning and operating the controversial pipeline through various subsidiaries.

– Unfortunately, we can’t comment on individual companies, but we expect that companies respect human rights and take account of human rights in their operations, says communications manager Helena Östman in Norges Bank Investment Management.

The newspaper wrote on Saturday that DNB is among the banks that have lent money to finance the controversial oil pipeline.

Indigenous people fear that any oil leak will impair drinking water and destroy holy sites in the reserve.

– DNB has so far not confirmed any information that indicates that the project violates human rights.

Yet we see serious allegations that the recent past is being repeated.

Therefore, we now present further questions to the project so as to be sure that the project is in line with current regulations and our own policy, writes vice president Even Westerveld of DNB in an email to Aftenposten.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today