Hydro rebuilt itself into a modern industrial conglomerate, which included moves into aluminium and petroleum. It also established new labor-management partnerships.
The German Wehrmacht capitulated on 8 May 1945. Hydros managing director Bjarne Eriksen was in a German prison officially as an officer, but in reality as a political prisoner. Eriksen was anxious to return home and get back to work as soon as possible.
If rock had a voice, Årdal would resonate with the history of hydroelectric power and industrial development, with the sound of picks and shovels joining in a never-ending salute to the workmen who wielded them.
The dream of an affordable and reliable car for ordinary people has been a driving force throughout automotive history. A fact that is not widely known is that magnesium from Norsk Hydro is one important ingredient in the Beetle.
Good news! 11 June 1963 was an important day for Karmøy: Hydros managing director Rolf Østbye announced that the company would build an aluminium plant on Karmøy. The island community of farmers and fishermen was to become an industrial centre.
One had recently been appointed managing director of Hydro. The other was the young leader of Norways largest local union. Johan B. Holte's and Tor Halvorsen's partnership sent waves far beyond the frontiers of Norway.
Hydros managing director from 1967 to 1977, Johan B. Holte, holds a central position in Norwegian post-war industrial history. It was under his leadership that Hydro became a modern company.
The Norwegian authorities gave Hydro a Christmas present in 1969; an oil discovery had been made in the North Sea perhaps a large one. Its name was to be Ekofisk, and it represented Hydros entry into the oil age.
In June 1969 Hydro signed an agreement with the authorities in Qatar to build and operate a major new fertilizer plant in the country. In addition to a 25 per cent ownership stake, Hydro also took on responsibility for selling the products.
