Lysekil, Sweden – The Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior and Greenpeace Nordic activists are peacefully blocking the entrance of the Brofjorden port in Sweden and blocking the oil tanker Grena Knutsen, which was destined for Preem\u2019s oil refinery Preemraff since yesterday at 19.30. Preem is a Swedish oil company that has applied to expand their oil refinery in Lysekil.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n
If the Swedish government grants Preem the permission to expand, this expansion would increase the CO2<\/sub> emissions from Preemraff by one million tonnes per year, making the refinery the single biggest source of CO2<\/sub> in Sweden.<\/p>\n\n Isadora Wronski<\/strong>, Programme Manager of Greenpeace Sweden says:<\/p>\n\n \u201cPreem\u2019s operations are a threat to people\u2019s health, the environment and our future. The science is clear, we need to phase out all fossil fuel production. Swedish Prime Minister Stefan L\u00f6fven must choose the Paris agreement over the oil industry\u2019s short term profits and deny the expansion of Preemraff in Lysekil.\u201d<\/p>\n\n After its attempt to reach the Preem\u2019s crude oil harbour, the crude oil tanker Grena Knutsen <\/em>turned around and went to anchorage just outside Brofjorden.<\/p>\n\n In addition, all other tanker traffic to and from Preem\u2019s refinery is now stopped by the peaceful protest, and ships can\u2019t leave or enter the crude oil harbour while Rainbow Warrior is at anchor, including the two tankers Tarnbris and Tern Ocean that are now in the product harbour of the refinery.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n Greenpeace demands that Prime Minister Stefan L\u00f6fven and the Swedish government choose the Paris Agreement over Preem and stop the planned expansion of the refinery in Lysekil. <\/p>\n\n ENDS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Notes:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Photo and video from the activity are found here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n Campaign briefing can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n (1) Background<\/a> on the Preemraff court case and appeals Contacts:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Ludvig Tillman, Communication Officer, ludvig.tillman@greenpeace.org<\/a>, +46 (0)70 271 64 37<\/p>\n\n Aud Hegli Nord\u00f8, Acting Head of Communications Nordic, aud.nordo@greenpeace.org<\/a>, +47 41470649<\/p>\n\n Greenpeace International Press Desk, pressdesk.int@greenpeace.org<\/a>, +31 (0)20 718 2470 (available 24 hours)<\/p>\n\n
(2) Read more about Preem\u2019s expansion and the Swedish climate law here
<\/a>This action is a part of the wider movement Stoppa Preemraff’s \u201cweeks of action\u201d against Preem\u2019s expansions, including the Flotilla<\/a> Rainbow Warrior which participated on 5 September. <\/p>\n\n