A popular energy sector conference and exhibition in Stavanger, Norway, has been cancelled this year due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
ONS 2020 was due to take place from August 31 to September 3.
But Norwegian authorities’ decision to ban all events with more than 500 people until September 1 has led to the showcase’s cancellation.
As the exhibition is held every two years – alternating with Offshore Europe in Aberdeen – the next edition of ONS won’t take place until 2022.
The event is attended by a large contingent of energy sector professionals from north-east Scotland.
Leif Johan Sevland, chief executive of the ONS Foundation, which organises the conference, said: “The decision is truly hard to take, but the health and safety of all our visitors, exhibitors and other participants must be the number one priority.
“ONS gathers around 70,000 people from over 100 countries during the four days of the event. With the situation of the global Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, it would be impossible to go through with this year’s planned event.
“It is with a heavy heart we have to cancel ONS 2020. ONS is of great importance for many, however health and safety must come first, says CEO and President of ONS, Leif Johan Sevland.
“We are now working through the implications of this unprecedented situation.
“Thereafter we will try to bring some of our programme in digital formats and continue the work to bring you the best possible ONS 2022 event.”
In 2018 there were 68,000 visitors from over 100 countries during the four day event.
The first ONS was held in 1974 and has been a biennial event ever since.
ONS 2020 is the first to be cancelled.
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