Finnmark Sp is concerned about Statskraft’s statement on the development of transmission cables on the power grid from northern Norway to southern Norway. This will lead to higher electricity prices in the north. Northern Norway is an Arctic area with a need for electricity for heating all year round and not just a few months in winter. The average temperature in Finnmark is on average about minus 0.6 degrees Celsius a year. And large areas are located within a climate zone referred to as the Tundra zone.

Northern Norway currently has limited capacity on the power grid to meet the green shift with a focus on industrial development with the use of electric power. The electricity resources must be used for bait for business establishment and development of the region, be it new jobs related to fisheries processing, battery production or mineral extraction. The government must therefore step in and give clear feedback that Northern Norway will not be a raw material supplier of power for foreign exports and the development of industry outside the region.

The electricity crisis is a result of Norway’s accession to the EU through the EEA agreement with Acer and the construction of foreign cables for the export of energy from Norway. This is a policy the Center Party has been strongly opposed to, precisely because of the consequences we see today with high electricity prices in Norway. The power resources can no longer be used to give the inhabitants of Norway cheap electricity and a competitive advantage to companies and the business community. This was to be ensured through the licensing legislation that Norway introduced in the development of power production in the country and which was continued in the development of the oil sector.

Emigration from northern Norway in general and Finnmark in particular has led to major concerns for a long time. To reverse this development, an offensive investment in business is needed in connection with low electricity prices and the utilization of clean power. Decisions on electrification of oil production on the shelf and Melkøya must therefore be reconsidered with the electricity crisis we see today. We believe the government can not focus on electrification of Melkøya with the challenges we see in the electricity sector today. Finnmark Sp therefore asks the government to give a clear signal on the following:

The government must say no to Statskraft’s plans for transmission cables from northern Norway to southern Norway. Northern Norway must have its low electricity prices as a competitive advantage for business development and as a contribution to the population in Arctic areas.

The government must stop the electrification of the oil sector and Melkøya to ensure access to power, without having to carry out major new encroachments on nature such as the development of wind power turbines and protected watercourses.

Geir A. Iversen, county leader

Finnmark Sp