OSLO, October 21. /TASS/  Norway has the possibility to increase gas supplies to the European market from 106 billion of cubic meters per year up to 120 billion cu m, Tord Lien, Minister of Petroleum and Energy of the Kingdom, told a media briefing.

He emphasized that for Norway, there was possibility to increase gas supplies to Europe up to 120 billion of cubic meters per year. It is less than a quarter of European consumption. However, talking about possible increase of gas supplies, it should be taken into consideration that in winter their pipelines are limited in capacity.

According to the minister, the best time to do so is in summer when gas demand in Europe is declining, and gas transmission system is not as busy as in winter.

He pointed out that Norwegian companies “will do everything what is needed” to support their European partners. However, he said, these days Norway saw no evidence that Europe would face the “blue fuel” shortage that winter.

Lien declared that all questions related to possible increasing of supplies would be issued by companies supplying gas to Europe from the Norwegian shelf.