OSLO, Jan 27 (Reuters) - A Norwegian court will hear anappeal next week by four firms seeking to overturn a ruling thatupheld a government decision to cut offshore gas transportationtariffs.
The firms - owned by Allianz, UBS, theAbu Dhabi Investment Authority and the Canada Pension PlanInvestment Board - said the slashed tariffs would cost them 15billion crowns ($1.8 billion) in lost earning by 2028.
Solveig Gas, Njord Gas Infrastructure, Silex Gas andInfragas, which hold a combined 44 percent stake in pipelineowner Gassled, said Oslo's decision was illegal and took it tocourt, but lost the case in September.
The government cut tariffs shortly after the four firmsbought their stakes in Gassled in 2011 and 2012 from ExxonMobil, Total, Statoil and Royal Dutch Shell for a total of 32 billion Norwegian crowns ($3.8 bln).
Infragas and Njord Gas Infrastructure said they could shyaway from new investment in the pipeline infrastructure just asNorway is seeking to expand the network northwards due todiscoveries in the Arctic.
Norway exports gas from numerous offshore fields via an8,000-km (5,000-mile) gas pipeline network, the largest offshorepipeline system in the world, to Britain and the continentalEurope.
The appeal hearing is expected to last from Jan. 31 untilApril 7, the Borgarting Court of Appeals said in a statement onFriday. ($1 = 8.3633 Norwegian crowns) (Reporting by Nerijus Adomaitis)