The Role of Enterprises

The Environmental Agreement signed by 15 business organisations and the Norwegian government states that enterprises that join the Agreement shall be exempt from paying NOx tax in return for paying to the Business Sector’s NOx Fund. From this Fund, participant enterprises may apply for support for measures designed to reduce NOx emissions.

The Environmental Agreement describes the role of Participant enterprises as follows:

• All enterprises obligated to pay NOx tax may join the Environmental Agreement, regardless of whether they are Norwegian or foreign owned or operated – all may join
   
• Enterprises may join the Environmental Agreement by signing the Participant Agreement defining their rights and obligations vis-à-vis the Business Sector’s NOx Fund

• Enterprises that sign the Participant Agreement are entitled to a tax exemption from the date which the enterprise join the Environmental Agreement
   
• The enterprises will receive a Participant Certificate as proof of their joining the Agreement

• This Participant Certificate will make them eligible to pay NOK 0 in NOx tax in return for paying to the Business Sector’s NOx Fund
   
• The rates of payment to the NOx Fund are NOK 11 per kilo NOx for the offshore industry, and NOK 4 for the other sectors (shipping, supply-vessels, fishing, industry, aviation, district heating etc.) as of 1.1.2011. These rates are the same for 2012

• The term of agreement which shall apply to the Environmental Agreement is 31.12.2017
   
• The obligations of the NOx Fund, with regard to the granting of support for operating costs and the like shall apply until 31.12.2018