Offshore staff

(UK, Russia) - Norway should resolve its Barents Sea border dispute with Russia as it's a security of supply issue for the US, says Benson Whitney, the new US ambassador to Norway.

"We see the border dispute...from an energy security perspective," says Whitney.

"We have an interest in it and would like to see it resolved."

For the past 30 years, Norway and Russia have been unable to reach an agreement on the border, putting the area off limits to exploration and development.

The 173,000-sq km area is estimated to hold 12 Bboe.

The US is looking to diversify its imports away from politically unstable areas such as the Middle East, and the Barents Sea could offer a stable supply.

Whitney says, "America must be involved in the Barents Sea."

03/20/06