THINKS IT WILL GO: Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre believes it should be possible to develop enough new power in Finnmark. Photo: Aurora Ytreberg Meløe / VG
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap) is not swayed by the massive criticism of the Melkøya project. But he acknowledges that his plan is completely dependent on the massive development of wind power – and that there is a risk.
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In this interview, the prime minister also says that opposition from the reindeer herding industry cannot put a complete stop to further development of power in Finnmark.
– We will not progress in developing society if we say that there are some who only say yes, and some who only say no. Then we have to move on and see how we can balance the interests, says Støre to VG.
Criticism has poured in after he announced this week that Equinor’s plant on Melkøya will be powered by electricity, and not the current gas power plant.
Because Finnmark has a deficit in electricity, and the Melkøya plan requires massive development of new power, and especially wind power.
This is one of the reasons why government partner Sp has resisted.
CONTROVERSIAL: Electrification of the gas plant on Melkøya will require large amounts of power. Photo: Mattis Sandblad / VG
The decision has caused an uproar: Local SP teams have considered collective resignation, and Senterungdommen has stated that they will consider government cooperation. Parties from Rødt to Frp have accused the government of wanting to vacuuming the entire country for power.
In addition, ordinary Finnish marketers fear that electrification could give them lower prices in the north.
But Støre says that will not happen:
– That is why it was out of the question for the government to only advocate for the electrification of Melkøya alone. That is why we have said that at least as much new renewable power must be produced in Finnmark as what Melkøya needs by 2030, he says.
– We have a clear plan for more renewable power. They contribute to us being able to tell people in Finnmark that Melkøya as a project should not in itself increase the prices of power.
In a letter from the SP county councils in Northern Norway discussed by TV2, the party leadership is criticized for “overrunning the grassroots”, and bringing the issue at the “worst imaginable time” before the election.
– Why are you bringing this up now?
– Because the matter has been thoroughly dealt with following an application. We have spent more time than just the application, because for us this was an opportunity to come up with a comprehensive plan for more power, more industry and climate reduction in Finnmark. It is irresponsible, I believe, not to work on those plans going forward, says Støre.
A LOT OF CRITICISM: Many are critical of the government’s approval Photo: Aurora Ytreberg Meløe / VG
Betting everything on wind power
In order to avoid the Melkøya electrification itself driving up prices, because it takes away the limited power, more than 350 megawatts of new power must be developed in Finnmark by 2030.
It will be too short a time for there to be a sea breeze. Støre is therefore betting everything on an upgrade of the hydropower plant in the Altavassdraget, and on onshore wind power:
– There are projects and proposals for power development in Finnmark of over 3,000 megawatts. All that will not be developed for several reasons. There are going to be projects that do not get permission because of reindeer herding, nature and other considerations, and there are going to be projects that have to be changed and adjusted, he says.
– But we see it as completely realistic that we can produce several times more power in Finnmark than Melkøya will need.
Two of the largest planned wind power projects are located in Lebesby. according to The class struggle they account for almost 45 per cent of all new wind power capacity in Finnmark – and depending on the election result, the municipality can veto them.
Applications have also been made for two large projects in Gamvik. In this municipality, the local politicians are positive about the plans, but the reindeer herding industry says no.
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These are the large wind power projects
There are four larger, unresolved projects located close to each other in Finnmark:
Davvi wind power plant, Lebesby – between 66 and 160 turbines in the mountain area north of the Sami’s sacred mountain Rásttigáisá in Tana. Within reindeer herding district 13 (Lágesduottar ja siskit Čorgaš) Laksefjorden wind power plant, Lebesby – approx. 60 turbines. Within reindeer grazing district 13.Digermulen wind power plant, Gamvik – approx. 60 turbines. Within reindeer grazing district 13.Sandfjellet wind power plant, Gamvik – up to 100 turbines. Within reindeer herding district 9 (Čorgaš). Show more
– If this does not happen by 2030, then have you just extended the life of this plant while it continues to use gas?
– Yes, then Snøhvit will have to adjust to running gas power plants for longer. But we must do everything we can to prevent that.
– Is there a risk that a polluting facility has been extended?
– Yes, and that risk should motivate us to use the seven years to produce enough power, says Støre.
Sami interests
The four large wind power projects applied for in Finnmark have a total of up to 380 turbines. At the same time, the whole of Finnmark is defined as a reindeer grazing area, except for cultivated land.
Reindrift Sami have been clear that they do not want these wind power projects, and will fight against their realization.
– The industrial nation of Norway, with Norwegian society’s ability to have a dialogue about interests, must be able to have as a clear ambition that in seven years we will be able to produce new, renewable power in such a good wind power county as Finnmark, where we also take indigenous interests into account and the reindeer herding, says Støre.
COMPENSATE: Støre believes it is possible to expand wind power in Finnmark and take into account the needs of reindeer husbandry. Photo: Aurora Ytreberg Meløe / VG
He emphasizes that each project must be approved individually, and that it is not the case that everything has been approved.
– The reindeer herders are already saying no to these projects today – they don’t want them, do they?
– It is an honest matter, but again it is the case that we will not progress with developing society if we say that there are some who only say yes,
and some who just say no. Then we have to move on and see how we can balance the interests, and then we ultimately have a responsibility to decide, says Støre, and continues:
– We must respect the international obligations. But if the answer is that there are conflicting interests here, therefore we do nothing, Finnmark is now in a critical situation. I don’t want to sit and watch that.
Don’t fear a new Fosen case
– You don’t fear a new Fosen case?
– We must learn from Fosen, and I am keen that we have dialogue and consultations with the Sami Parliament, but also with the reindeer herding industry in the individual locations.
He points out that much of this concerns network development, where it is the construction phase that has the greatest consequences for the industry.
– Then you have to choose construction periods that take reindeer herding into account after consultation with them. For any wind farms, the needs of reindeer husbandry must also be taken into account, and when we start with offshore wind there must be good balances against the interests of fisheries. But here the areas are so large and the wind so accessible that it is entirely possible.
IMPORTANT NUTRITION: Reindeer farming not only employs the reindeer owners, but also others, such as those who work in the slaughterhouses. Here from Finnmarksvidda in 2016. Photo: Naina Helén Jåma / VG
– Big cuts
Critics of electrification have also pointed out that the gas that will still be exported will lead to emissions in the world, even if Norway cuts emissions by electrifying the plant.
– Is this really good for the world’s climate accounts?
– Yes, and I think that is well documented. In the future, those who buy gas must emphasize the climate footprint of the gas they buy.
Melkøya will be able to supply gas that has a much lower climate footprint than other sources, says Støre.
He points out that liquefied natural gas from Finnmark is 5 percent of Norwegian gas exports.
– It is the only place from which we send liquefied gas, which Europe will need for many years to come. There is also a security policy dimension: Now we can give Europe security that it will come from a stable democracy in Europe well into the 2040s.
CLIMATE CUT: According to the government, electrification of Melkøya can cut 850,000 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually. Photo: Aurora Ytreberg Meløe / VG
– Is Norwegian gas greener?
– It is not the right word to use, but it has a much better climate footprint than gas from other sources.
– Couldn’t Equinor pay for their own climate cuts, by instead asking them to cut emissions with carbon capture and storage (CCS)?
– We have made a thorough assessment of this. Cleaning the emissions from Melkøya involves building a plant to clean the flue gas from the gas-fired power plants. It will be a very large investment of many tens of billions for a limited period of time – because Snøhvit will not last forever.
– Surely you can say that about electrification as well?
– Yes, but the cost of that is estimated to be much lower. And now we will develop power that will last much longer, says Støre, and adds:
– In addition, it is the case that companies are allowed to deduct the costs of a CCS plant from the State, so over 80 per cent of that bill would have been taken by the community. I think that is a bad use of the community’s resources in this matter.
Støre emphasizes that electrification of Melkøya is absolutely necessary to reach Norway’s climate goals.
– Here there is also a very important climate dimension that some take lightly – we are talking about 850,000 tonnes of co₂ each year that we can cut. At the Storting, we have agreed on a 50 per cent emission reduction from the Norwegian oil and gas sector. We must reach our climate goals, and this is absolutely necessary to reach it.
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Published: 11.08.23 at 20:52
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2023-08-11 18:52:33
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