Protective security for the energy sector

The threats, if successful, could compromise Sweden’s national security by exposing, destroying or rendering critical assets inaccessible. Protective security measures are regulated by the Protective Security Act and the Protective Security Ordinance.

Security-sensitive activities are operations that are of importance to Sweden’s national security or that fall under an international obligation requiring protective security measures. The energy sector is one of the sectors identified as critically important. It is the responsibility of each organisation within the sector to assess whether their activities are considered security-sensitive.

The Swedish Energy Agency’s role and responsibility

The Swedish Energy Agency serves as the regulatory authority for organisations engaged in security-sensitive activities within the sectors of district heating, natural gas and the supply of oil and fuels. We also oversee the national communications security service.

Any organisation that conducts security-sensitive activities in Sweden is required to notify the regulatory authority. This includes submitting a formal notification of who the organisations has appointed as Protective Security Officer and Communications Security Officer.

Protective security measures

To maintain protective security, organisations engaged in security-sensitive activities must implement measures across three key areas:

• information security

• personnel security

• physical security

These three areas overlap to ensure a comprehensive and robust protective security framework.