The 'Dieselbrølet' protest movement, initiated by Jan-Erik Rafoss, has escalated with plans for a major convoy from Kvinesdal to Oslo, overnighting in Telemark before arriving in the capital on Friday afternoon. According to multiple reports, the group created headlines with protests before Easter, and Rafoss expects about 800 vehicles to participate in this action, including 100 trucks and 40 tractors. He warns that high fuel prices could lead to many businesses going bankrupt. According to NRK Sørlandet, Jan-Erik Rafoss described the goal as being seen and showing that people and companies are desperate over high prices, not to create chaos, and he stated the protest will happen regardless of what politicians decide.
Norway is experiencing an unprecedented fuel price crisis, with NRK reporting there has never been a greater difference between petrol and diesel prices. Protest groups are taking a stand against diesel prices, which are now around 30 kroner per litre, a 10 kroner increase compared to the average in February according to NAF. For most drivers, this price increase means spending an extra 660 kroner per month on fuel, while Rafoss, who owns six trucks, says his fuel costs have increased by over 100,000 kroner extra per month. He notes that for the largest companies, this costs many tens of millions extra per month, and profit margins in the transport industry are at just 2 to 3 percent.
The goal is to be seen and show that people and companies are desperate over high prices, not to create chaos.
Political pressure is intensifying, with the Storting set to vote on Thursday on a proposal to temporarily remove the road usage tax on petrol and diesel, which in 2026 is 3.77 kroner per liter of petrol and 2.28 per liter of diesel. Senterpartiet, with Høyre, Frp, and KrF, secured a majority for fast-tracking this proposal to cut diesel and petrol prices. However, contradictions exist in the government's timeline: Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg promised new diesel cuts by May 1, but according to him, the government will wait for a revised budget in May before considering any cuts to gasoline or diesel taxes. Senterparti leader Trygve Slagsvold Vedum says diesel prices must still go lower and all cuts must be implemented, noting the first tax cuts came at Easter. Other political parties in the Parliament and NAF are putting strong pressure on the government for immediate relief for drivers, with NAF urging the government to follow Sweden’s example and temporarily cut road taxes.
Detailed protest actions are planned across multiple regions, with a slow-driving action on E39 from Kvinesdal to Mandal at 40 km/h, occupying all lanes, starting at 1:00 PM from Øye in Kvinesdal heading to the Mandalskrysset intersection. On the South Coast, actions are also scheduled on E39 from Kvinesdal to Mandal at 13:00 and Vennesla-Kristiansand-Lillesand at 15:00. In Telemark, an action on E18 from Langrønningen to the Agder border and back is planned with 100 trucks driving at 40 km/h, according to machinery contractor Vidar Tellefsen. In Rogaland, an action is only announced in Suldal, from Bergekrossen to Nesflaten starting at 15:00. The 'Dieselbrølet' action is underway Friday afternoon, with vehicles driving at 40 km/h in various locations, and Friday before Palm Sunday is one of the biggest travel days of the year, with actions announced on E39 Kvinesdal-Mandal, E18 Arendal-Lillesand, and E18 Langangen-Grenstøl.
The protest will happen regardless of what politicians decide.
Authorities are responding with caution, as police say they facilitate legal expression but may intervene if traffic is blocked or poses danger to life and health, according to Torgeir Brenden of the police. The Norwegian Public Roads Administration is concerned the actions could affect traffic safety and emergency services, according to Marianne Øhrn of Vegvesenet. Police have already stopped a planned slow-driving action from Ålesund to Tresfjordbrua, and according to NRK Nyheter, protesters described being deprived of the right to express themselves.
Internationally, motorists in Ireland are facing delays due to protests against fuel prices, with slow-moving convoys on key motorways, and Gardai warned the protest could lead to significant traffic disruption and have had limited interaction with organizers. In France, construction workers set up a filtering roadblock on the Nantes ring road to protest rising fuel prices, citing sharp diesel cost increases and economic struggles. The surge in diesel prices is driven by the ongoing impact of the conflict in the Middle East, with the price of Brent crude oil increasing by around 1.5% to 111.4 US dollars a barrel, about 53% higher than before the conflict started in late February.
I have only received positive reactions and sympathy for the action.
Organizer Jan-Erik Rafoss has mobilized support across the country, with Facebook events for the action in multiple locations. According to NRK Sørlandet, he described receiving only positive reactions and sympathy for the action, and he demands immediate tax cuts from the state, saying half the price should not be taxes. According to www.thelocal.no, he also noted that when diesel costs 30 kroner per litre, he has to spend a third of his income just on fuel, and he emphasized that the protest aims to gain sympathy without creating chaos.
Holiday traffic complications are expected, as with holiday traffic already anticipated to be heavy for the Easter break, these protests will likely cause even longer delays on Friday afternoon. On Friday, traffic jams are possible in Telemark and Agder due to protest convoys on E18 and E39. To avoid the worst congestion, sources advise trying to leave much earlier in the morning, take different routes to avoid the E18 and E39, or consider travelling on another day.
I demand immediate tax cuts from the state, saying half the price should not be taxes.
Fuel prices have gone down since the Easter protests, according to multiple reports, but remain critically high. According to www.thelocal.no, Vidar Tellefsen described the industry facing nonstop challenges, from the pandemic to the war in Ukraine, and he called the current price hike 'the sum of everything becoming too much.'
Key unknowns persist, including the exact number of vehicles participating in the Kvinesdal-Oslo convoy, as only Rafoss provides an estimate of about 800. Whether police will intervene in the protests beyond the stopped action in Ålesund remains unclear, as safety concerns are raised but specific plans are not detailed. The full extent of traffic disruptions across all protest locations is uncertain, with sources reporting varying details without a comprehensive overview.
MDG called the decision incredibly irresponsible, setting back Norwegian climate policy.
Further unknowns include the immediate economic impact of the protests on businesses and daily commuters, beyond general statements about delays and costs. The government's specific response to the protests beyond tax cut discussions, such as any negotiations or policy adjustments, has not been fully outlined. According to NRK Sørlandet, Ingrid Liland of MDG described the decision to protest as incredibly irresponsible, setting back Norwegian climate policy, highlighting broader environmental concerns amid the crisis.
Diesel prices nearing 30 kroner per liter mean I spend 1/3 of my income on fuel, and many in the industry are struggling with 2-3% margins.
Protesters react to the police decision, saying they are being deprived of the right to express themselves.
We don’t want to create traffic chaos... nevertheless, we believe most people will sympathise with our campaign.
When diesel costs 30 kroner per litre, I have to spend a third of my income just on fuel.
The industry has faced nonstop challenges, from the pandemic to the war in Ukraine.
The current price hike is 'the sum of everything becoming too much.'