She got to work with something she is passionate about

Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM) has a 10-year anniversary in 2022. We celebrate ourselves with interviews with people who in various ways have had impact on the business in these years.

–  Why did you apply for a position at TCM?

– I started my work with CO₂ capture in Equinor in 2008, as an assistant project manager for the planned full-scale plant at Mongstad. After four years of commuting to Stavanger, I had six months’ leave. Then the position as operation manager at TCM appeared, which for me was a perfect opportunity to continue working with CO₂ capture which I was very interested in. The interview took place in Equinor, and I also had a good conversation with Tore Amundsen, who then was Managing Director of TCM. I was very happy to get the job as Operation Manager.

– How was your first meeting with TCM?

– With my background from working on the full-scale project, I knew quite a bit what I was going into. I still felt a certain excitement when I entered the administration building in December 2012. I was well received, in my office there were flowers as a nice welcome. The amine plant had been operational for some time. The CAP plant was in operation, but was stopped at the end of the month and prepared for modifications prior to a new start-up a few months later. It was more than enough to work with and dig into; innovation with new and untested technology was demanding. But I had very good support from many skilled and committed colleagues.

– What will you highlight as the most rewarding and interesting work you took part in at TCM?

– The most important for me was to be involved in the implementation of projects with a global perspective. Succeeding in carbon capture is important for the whole world. For both me and my colleagues at TCM, it has been incredibly rewarding to work with so many good and dedicated people from the technology providers and in the research environments, and to experience that our efforts for the CCS community are appreciated and make a difference. Being able to document that CO₂ capture is both safe and feasible is very important. I think it has been interesting to register through the many visits to TCM, that so many people from different countries, universities and research organizations are interested in what is happening at TCM. It gives hope for the future.

– Are there projects or events you remember back with special joy?

– I especially remember when the owner companies in 2017 decided to extend the operating period for TCM. One owner decided to leave and a new one came in, and the agreement was signed at Mongstad with all employees present. It was a moment of celebration and recognition for the work we had done in the previous five years.

Another memorable event was when representatives of NETL, which coordinates the US authorities’ activities for carbon capture, at «Milestone Mongstad» gave Norway and TCM their unreserved recognition. Normally, technologically strong USA would have built such a test facility themselves, but the cooperation with us has made it unnecessary.

I would also like to emphasize the commitment that has characterized the business. TCM has a small and vulnerable organization, which has nevertheless mastered solving the many challenges along the way. The good feedback from the customers has rightly made us proud.

Finally, I think it is gratifying that TCM’s strong focus and expertise on HSE and emissions issues, has created safety and support for the activities in the local community. The fact that we have avoided creating local problems in the work to solve a global challenge, has been and is very important. TCM has put HSE and emissions issues on the agenda in the global CCS community. TCM is among the foremost in the world in emissions measurements and instrumentation for documenting emissions from CO₂ capture. In this area, TCM has built a strong and professional environment.

– What do you think was most challenging about your work at TCM?

– What I am thinking of in this connection is that TCM has not received the same recognition in Norway as in the world. We had deserved better!

Personally, I also think back on a special event in advance of a test campaign as a bit challenging. An operational problem was discovered and was not responded to quickly enough. I learned that we must ensure adequate dialogue and information from the technology provider at an early stage so that we are well prepared and can take our precautions. But we sorted out the problem and got control of the situation.

– When you tell your friends and acquaintances about the business at TCM, what do you emphasize as the most important utility value?

– For me, it is important that in a conversation I can look my neighbor in the eye and say that what I am doing is safe. My experience is that a humble approach is best, namely, to admit that technology development takes time, and that safe capture of CO₂ is a demanding job. Therefore, TCM is necessary to test and verify that technologies actually work, which in turn will contribute to solving the climate problems. In addition, I also think it is important to emphasize that working with carbon capture is both meaningful and enjoyable.

– What is your wish for TCM the next ten years?

– For me, who for several years has followed the development of capture and storage of CO₂ closely, it is enormously satisfying that full-scale facilities are now being built both in Norway and around the world. It would not have happened without TCM. My hope is that TCM will continue to be an important part of this value chain, both through testing of new technologies and advice project developer and operators who will build and operate large facilities. A stronger collaboration between the Longship project and TCM will strengthen the expertise Norway has built for the entire CO₂ value chain, which can be shared with the world.

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