(Adds background, detail)
OSLO, Nov 27 (Reuters) - A key export terminal for Norwegian
natural gas will close down on Saturday if a labour strike goes
ahead as planned, resulting in a reduction of supplies to
Europe, gas system operator Gassco said in a statement on
Friday.
The Norwegian Oil and Gas Association (NOG) and Gassco
warned on Thursday that the Nyhamna plant, which handles about a
quarter of Norway's gas exports, will be closed unless a strike
among security guards is called off.
Exports from the Nyhamna processing facility, which has a
capacity of 84 million standard cubic metres (mcm) of gas per
day, will be cut by 50 mcm on Saturday, Gassco said.
Norway is Europe's second largest gas producer after Russia,
supplying 22% of the European Union's demand last year,
according to Norwegian government data.
The Nyhamna plant processes natural gas from the offshore
Ormen Lange and Aasta Hansteen fields, which are also expected
to close when the plant shuts down, Gassco and the NOG have
said.
(Reporting by Terje Solsvik, editing by Nerijus Adomaitis)
