– Norwegian political authorities have decided how the power system works. It provides mutual benefits for both Norway and the countries we are associated with. If the right of disposal is described as that we able to cut the exchange, I don’t think it would be in our interest. We could have done so, but it would have had major negative effects on price, security of supply and political and security policy cooperation.
This is what Prime Minister Støre says when asked by Dagbladet whether Norway has autonomy over power. Then he adds:
– Norway has not chosen to do that, we have used our discretion to have that cooperation, says Støre.
Støre further says that Norway’s energy system, which is now closely linked to Sweden, Denmark, Germany and England through foreign cables, has not only served Norway well. But also serving Norway good.
Trying to gain control
– The power flows both ways. It serves Norway well over time. I believe that we both have contractual obligations, but also heavy Norwegian interests which mean that we must take care of it. You asked if we have control over the force; Yes, we have. We have chosen the system we have, and it is good for several reasons. Both for the way we dispose of our power, it gives us security of supply, and that we have a political community with the countries we are connected to, says Støre.
Støre’s promise in 2018
In the spring of 2018, the debate raged about whether Norway should join the EU’s third energy market package Acer. The opposition was strong internally in the Labor Party and in LO, while the Labor leadership led by Støre was in favor.
Støre then stepped out and reassured LO, AUF and the grassroots in his own party and promised voters that they could trust the Labor Party.
– The Labor Party would not, on terms, enter into an agreement that weakened national ownership, sovereignty and management rights over our natural resources. This has been in our history since hydropower became subject to licensing laws, Støre told NTB in March 2018.
The Labor Party then voted for Acer together with, among others, the Progress Party and the then governing parties. The FRP has now turned around in energy policy after they left the government offices. Although two votes were needed in the parliamentary group in spring 2021.
STRUGGLES: Marius Arion Nilsen (Frp) struggles to understand Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Photo: Javad Parsa / NTB
sea view
Frp: – Absurd
The FRP reacts strongly to Støre insinuating that Norway has used the national right to self-determination to renounce its right to self-determination.
– I’m probably not the only one who often struggles to understand what the prime minister actually means in various matters, but this really takes the cake. It is absurd for Støre to claim that Norway with the current government has the right to self-determination over power when at the same time he acknowledges that he has relinquished political control, says Marius Arion Nilsen (Frp) in the energy committee, and takes a breath:
– If we take the prime minister at his word, then it is code red for the national right to self-determination over power.
Nilsen believes that Norway has good cards in its hand vis-à-vis the EU to obtain a decoupling of the Norwegian electricity price from European gas prices.
– The government has not even dared to suggest negotiations. Unfortunately, we see that both the Labor Party and the Center Party seem more concerned with training, investigating and explaining that residents and businesses have received the highest electricity bills of all time on their watch, says Nilsen.
Dispute over power
Rødt: – Pissing at the history of power
Sofie Marhaug from Rødt sits on the same committee. She too is puzzled by Støre’s definition of having autonomy over power.
– That Støre wants to use political power to relinquish control over the force is just sad. Not least for a party like the Labor Party, with the proud history of political power they are now pissing on, says Marhaug, who emphasizes that she is in favor of a mutual exchange of power.
– PISSING ON: Sofie Marhaug in Rødt believes Støre and the Labor Party “piss on” the party’s proud history of political power. Photo: Fredrik Varfjell / NTB
sea view
– But the enormous export capacity from southern Norway is not about that. Combined with the fact that Norwegian politicians have subordinated Norwegian energy policy to the EU’s market liberalism, this policy destroys the competitive advantage of cheap, renewable power, says Marhaug.
Now people and industry are paying a high price for the policy, Rødt-toppen points out.
– Both this and the previous government continue to build on the failed and completely unrealistic idea of making Norway Europe’s “green battery”. This is how Norwegian politicians gamble with the valuable hydropower. It’s a disaster for most people, while the top brass in the power industry can laugh all the way to the bank, says Marhaug.
