Norway has announced that it will block a sale plan by Rolls-Royce, a Norwegian company that produces ship engines to a Russian group, for fear that Russia might get its hands on sensitive technologies.
A member of NATO, the Scandinavian country had requested two weeks ago the temporary suspension of the transfer of Bergen Engines by the British engine manufacturer, to have time to consider the impact of this action on its national security.
“We have enough information to conclude that there is an absolute need to prevent the sale of the business to a company controlled by a country with which we do not cooperate in the field of security,” said Justice and Public Security Minister Monica Maland.
Under Rolls Royce control since 1999, Bergen Engines supplies and maintains engines for several NATO naval warships, including the Norwegian spy ship Marjata, according to local media. The group had a turnover of 279 million euros in 2019 with 950 employees.
In a statement, the Norwegian government specifically explained that “Bergen Engines technology and engines should be of great military strategic importance to Russia».
“This could strengthen Russia’s military capabilities in a way that is clearly contrary to the interests of Norway’s security policy and its allies,” he said.
This blockade could turn out badly in Moscow. On March 9, following the announcement of the suspension of this transaction, the Russian embassy in Oslo denounced the “anti-Russian consequences” of the decision.
The prospective buyer, Russia-based private company TMH, said it was “very disappointed” that it would be ready for solutions that would guarantee current maritime contracts and export controls.
“We will now consider all the commercial, economic and legal implications of the Norwegian government’s decision,” the company said in a statement to AFP.
Specializing in transport engineering and a major supplier of rolling stock, TMH has around 100,000 employees in 25 facilities worldwide.
The € 150 million sale would be part of a large προγράμματος 2 billion share divestiture program announced last summer by Rolls-Royce to stabilize its finances by early 2022.
The British group stated that it maintains this goal.
«The announcement will create great uncertainty within Bergen Engines“, However, it refers to an announcement. “We will seek the help of the Norwegian government to find another option quickly.”
Norway, which shares a border with Russia in the far north, has traditionally maintained cordial relations with its neighbor, but these have deteriorated since the Russian invasion of Crimea in 2014.
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