The government will introduce electricity support in Longyearbyen after power shocks – NRK Troms and Finnmark

After the coal-fired power plant in Longyearbyen was shut down, prices have risen sharply for the local population and the business community.

It is intended that electricity production will be renewable, but until further notice the electricity will come from diesel power plants.

– Svalbard society has been based on coal mining, it is a tradition we have been proud of, but now this is changing, says Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap) at a press conference on Tuesday.

At the end of May, the government presents the Svalbard report.

– Here we want to send a signal that the state must take greater responsibility for the energy supply in Longyearbyen, says Støre.

Sustainable for the environment and economy

He points to the state-owned company Store Norske as a possible tool in this regard.

– The experience Store Norske has from operations in Svalbard, and the fact that it is a wholly owned state company, means that they can take over the responsibility for restructuring the energy supply, says Støre.

It has not been decided how the electricity in Longyearbyen will become renewable.

– We must use the best expertise we have, and I will not prejudge what that might be. But geothermal solutions, wind power and various possibilities linked to hydrogen have been discussed. We want something that is sustainable for the environment, but also related to costs for residents and the state, says Støre.

90 percent price increase

There has been a sharp increase in the price of electricity. Local board chairman Terje Aunevik (V) is happy about the news from Støre.

– We have been through a time with tendencies towards unrest around prices, and have tried to make it as fair as possible. This grant provides a completely different opportunity for a tariff that does not create noise in Longyearbyen, says Aunevik.

According to the local board leader, there has been agreement across party lines locally on how electricity production should be managed.

– We have managed to spare the families, but the business world has experienced an increase of close to 90 per cent. There will be a lot of noise, says Aunevik.

Similar needs will apply in the future

Støre denies that the coal-fired power plant in Longyearbyen was shut down too early.

– We had a coal-fired power plant from 1983, when I have visited it, experts have been in to repair and improve it, so it was by no means a safe and lasting alternative, says Støre.

– Does more electricity support need to be allocated in the autumn?

– I cannot conclude that now, but when we do this it is for two reasons. We want to ensure stable and lower electricity prices for those who live in Longyearbyen today, and the second is to secure resources for the security and restructuring work that is underway. It is not unlikely that similar needs will apply in 2025, but we must return to that in the ordinary budget, says Støre.

Grants support for security work

– If the energy supply falls away in a natural environment like Longyearbyen, it can become demanding and critical quite quickly, says Støre.

Among other things, the prime minister envisages that mobile emergency units can be phased in.

– We are also going to propose NOK 42 million in the revised budget to invest in the energy supply, which will put the local government in a better position to prioritize security in the energy system, says Støre.

The budget proposal from the government will be considered by the Storting later in May, but Støre expects it to get a majority.