Minister of Petroleum and Energy (Norway)

Minister of Petroleum and Energy of Norway Olje- og energiministeren
Incumbent Tord Lien since 16 October 2013
Ministry of Petroleum and Energy
Member of	Council of State
Seat	Oslo
Nominator	Prime Minister
Appointer	Monarch with approval of Parliament
Term length	No fixed length
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Norway
Precursor	Minister of Trade and Industry
Formation	11 January 1978
First holder	Bjartmar Alv Gjerde
Deputy	State secretaries at the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy
Website	Official website

The Minister of Petroleum and Energy (Norwegian: Olje- og energiministeren) is a councilor of state and chief of the Norway's Ministry of Petroleum and Energy. Since 16 October 2013 the position has been held by Tord Lien of the Progress Party. The ministry is responsible for the government's energy policy, including management of Norway's energy resources, including the valuable deposits of petroleum and hydroelectricity. Major subordinate agencies and companies include the Water Resources and Energy Directorate, the Petroleum Directorate, Petoro, Gassnova, Gassco, Enova, Statnett and a partial ownership of Statoil. The position was created on 11 January 1978 as a response to the increased importance of oil on the Norwegian continental shelf. The position was merged with the Minister of Trade and Industry between 1992 and 1996.

The position has been held by seventeen people from five parties. No person has held the position for at least three years, resulting in one of the most volatile positions in the cabinet. Kåre Kristiansen holds the longest tenure, as one of six to have held the position for more than two years. The position has been a favorite of the Centre Party, who has claimed it in all coalition governments they have participated in except Willoch II. The position has overall been held longer by the Centre Party than the Labour Party.