Equinor opens Knarr drone testing centre

The latest Rogaland and Stavanger news from the past 48 hours: Equinor opened the Knarr test centre in Kårstø, Tysvær municipality, on Wednesday 28 October to test drones and underwater robots down to a depth of 250 metres (NRK Rogaland / Stavanger). Meanwhile, Sauda municipality in Rogaland must respond to worldwide interest in establishing data centres (NRK Rogaland / Stavanger).

Rogaland / Stavanger news: Equinor opens Knarr in Kårstø

Equinor opened a test and development centre for drones, robots and unmanned underwater vehicles at Kårstø, in the Kårstø processing complex in Tysvær, on Wednesday 28 October (NRK Rogaland / Stavanger). NRK describes Knarr as one of the first centres of its kind in the world. Tests will be conducted at depths of up to 250 metres, using autonomous robots tasked with taking over dangerous underwater jobs (NRK Rogaland / Stavanger).

Hege Skryseth, Equinor’s technology and innovation director, explains that using underwater drones for smaller tasks should enable more efficient operations and free up large vessels for heavier missions (NRK Rogaland / Stavanger). The centre will also serve industries beyond oil and gas: aquaculture, offshore wind, maritime transport and defence are cited by NRK. According to the public broadcaster, the technology could save several hundred million kroner a year (NRK Rogaland / Stavanger).

The Knarr facility is located near the Kårstø processing complex in Rogaland county. NRK Rogaland / Stavanger says the project is not limited to oil and gas operations, although Equinor initially expects efficiency gains in its underwater activities. The centre is intended to pave the way for regular testing of equipment and software for environments where human intervention is costly or hazardous (NRK Rogaland / Stavanger).

Sauda: worldwide interest in data centres

In Sauda, Rogaland, mayor Håvard Handeland (Ap) says calls and emails are multiplying, including at night, from the United States and Asia (NRK Rogaland / Stavanger). The reason: the municipality has an undeveloped plot and abundant electricity supply, two advantages for the data centre industry. NRK reports that the industry found the municipality’s email addresses and telephone numbers (NRK Rogaland / Stavanger).

Håvard Handeland became mayor at 19 and is now 22, NRK Rogaland / Stavanger> recalls. He appointed a new municipal director and has represented Sauda in local matters. Faced with the surge in enquiries, he describes the situation with an image: “It’s like throwing a piece of fresh meat onto the savanna,” he tells NRK. The municipality must now decide how to respond to these approaches, according to NRK Rogaland / Stavanger.

Equinor, results and the cost of credit

NRK Rogaland / Stavanger also devotes an article to the connection between Equinor’s results and the cost of credit. The group is presented as Norway’s largest company, and its quarterly report as a thermometer for the oil and gas industry. A good result means billions of kroner paid to the state, greater pressure on many businesses and a strong return for the state (NRK Rogaland / Stavanger).

The same article describes a sequence: when Equinor earns well, the billions go to the state, but also to operations, upgrades and the search for new deposits. This cycle can affect household portfolios and housing. NRK sums up this mechanism in its headline: “Slik gjør oljegigantens milliarduksess lånet ditt dyrere”, meaning how the oil giant’s billion-kroner success makes your loan more expensive. A strong result from Equinor is associated with higher interest rates (NRK Rogaland / Stavanger).

📌 Local briefs

A man in his mid-20s fell from a height at the Rogfast construction site; he was conscious and was taken to hospital, according to NRK Rogaland / Stavanger. Police confirmed a tactical investigation involving witness interviews, and the employer is required to notify Arbeidstilsynet (NRK Rogaland / Stavanger).

Stavanger Aftenblad reports that Halleland and Egebakken are at the top of the KrF list and publishes its assessment of Hinna-Viking 2’s players.

Sources: NRK Rogaland / Stavanger, Stavanger Aftenblad, The Local Norway — Period: 28 October 2026 and 29 October 2026