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"Tea, anyone?" Easington celebrates the Langeled pipeline
 HURRA: Sixth graders from Solem and Julsundet schools in Aukra, Norway, join local pupils from Easington Primary School, in a cheer for Langeled. Helping raise the volume are East Riding of Yorkshire town crier, Mike Wood, back; Aukra mayor, Aud Mork, sitting, left; Hydro's Anne Lycke; Easington Parish Council chairwoman, Hilary Wilson; Gassco's Trond Nordal; and local UK parliament member, Graham Stuart. (All photos: David Burke) |
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(Oct. 15, 2006) A tea party hosted by Gassco along with Hydro and the Langeled partners for the community of Easington on Saturday was a real gas. Some 400 villagers turned out for the event, which ceremoniously marked the hand over of the world's longest subsea pipeline to new operator, Gassco.
 GOOD FOOD: A buffet featuring typical tea-time treats and of course tea was served. |
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"It’s a little sad that it’s over, but we’ve made a lot of friends and we’re very happy everything has been accomplished on time and below budget," said Anne Lycke, Hydro’s Langeled asset manager, sharing a cup of tea with Hilary Wilson, chairwoman of the Easington Parish Council.
Hydro is development operator for the Ormen Lange/Langeled project, while Statoil has managed the Langeled project in cooperation with Hydro. Langeled has been completed at NOK 3 billion below budget.
 TEA TIME: Hydro's Langeled asset manager, Anne Lycke, right, shares a cup of tea with Easington Parish Council chairwoman, Hilary Wilson, left. Tea was served by Tina Cerutti, owner and chef of local restaurant, Cerutti's. East Riding of Yorkshire's official town crier, Mike Wood, looks on. |
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Gassco officially became operator of the Langeled gas pipeline and the new receiving terminal for Norwegian gas at Easington on September 1. Langeled, which started delivering gas from southern Norwegian fields on Oct. 1, will supply the UK with up to 20 percent of its gas needs for several decades.
"I hope you think about your friends in Norway when you heat your tea water with Norwegian gas," said Aud Mork, mayor of Aukra municipality, at the other northern end of the Langeled pipeline.
Mork attended the tea party with several sixth graders from Julsundet and Solem schools, who sang a song together with Easington Primary School pupils.
 ENTERTAINMENT: Clowns, magicians and a brass band were on hand to entertain young and old alike. |
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East Riding of Yorkshire’s official town crier mustered villagers for the tea party and introduced speakers. A local brass band performed Beatles tunes while clowns and magicians entertained the many children present. A buffet was served – and of course, there was tea.
Mork presented Easington with the gift of two candlesticks made from Norwegian pewter. "We give you our light!" she said, adding she was saddened by the news of Easington mayor Barney Moverley’s recent passing.
"Langeled literally connects Norway and the UK together and represents the strong bonds between our two countries," said Lycke. "I want to thank Easington. It is only between good friends, through open dialog and discussion, that we can improve – and you have helped us immeasurably to improve the Langeled project."
 TOGETHER: Aukra mayor, Aud Mork, left, and Hydro's Langeled asset manager, Anne Lycke, hope present interaction between school children in Easington and Aukra continues. |
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Gassco vice president of technical operations, Trond Nordal, announced the establishment of a NOK 1 million (UK £82,000) maintenance fund by Hydro and the Langeled partners for Easington’s community center. The Langeled consortium recently built and opened the new Easington Community Hall to replace a former wooden structure erected 70 years ago.
"I still have to pinch myself to believe it when I see the new hall," said Wilson, who thanked Hydro and the Langeled partners for taking Easington’s concerns seriously and their "positive commitment to limiting any possible risks to the community."
"As ever, Anne, you do things with style and make friends wherever you go," said local UK parliamentary representative, Graham Stuart, referring to Lycke.
Collection of articles and information material in connection with the Langeled opening:
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