Fjordlab is on the cut list for the Norwegian Marine Technology Center if it becomes necessary, but in theory it is still good to have money left.
It was the industry magazine Byggeindustrien that first wrote that it is proposed to scrap the Fjordlab part of the Norwegian Sea Technology Center project. Khrono writes that Statsbygg “will drop” Fjordlaben.
Facts
This is Fjordlab
Fjordlab consists of various laboratories in water and on land, and is located in Trondheimsfjorden, Ålesund and around Hitra and Frøya.
The project, which is part of the large Norwegian Marine Technology Center project, is a collection of things; a building, a new quay, and many different equipment components, together with a budget of 553 million.
The function of Fjordlab is to help NTNU and Sintef to research, develop and test underwater robots, underwater installations, autonomous ships and ship operations.
Fjordlab also works with fish farming, development of seaweed and kelp as food, environmental measurements and environmental monitoring, safety and general knowledge of what is going on in the sea.
Source: NTNU
Although Fjordlab is admittedly on a cut list, dean Olav Bolland at the Faculty of Engineering feels that the publications of late can give a more dramatic picture than the reality.
– It is not that it is proposed that this should be cut now. The building has been on a cut list, which all large public building projects must have, for a long time. What is new now is that our scope for cutting is getting smaller and smaller. In practice, this is the only thing that can in theory be cut, should it become necessary, says Bolland.
This is because you can only cut where Statsbygg has not already entered into contracts with contractors. Then only the student laboratories in Archimedes’ house and Fjordlab remain. Archimedes’ house is protected from cuts as the student laboratories are essential for the Norwegian Marine Technology Center’s goal achievement.
Uses 1.3 billion under allocation if nothing is cut
It has previously been written that the building is close to cost overruns. It can also be nuanced a little. Because although more money is probably being used than what Statsbygg had originally intended, less money is currently being used than the Storting has allocated for the project.
– The Storting has allocated NOK 10.5 billion, and the management framework for Statsbygg is approximately NOK 8.5 billion. The latest calculations estimate that the entire project, without any cuts, will cost NOK 9.2 billion, says Bolland.
So, even if you spend more than what Statsbygg should aim for, 1.3 billion less is used than the grant. Admittedly, as long as the calculations hold water.
Still not completely safe
However, that does not mean that Fjordlab is completely safe. First, the ministry and politicians must be convinced that it is okay for this cushion, or uncertainty provision as it is called, to be used. The possibility could be that they would rather say that the cut list must be used.
– We are constantly working towards them so that they understand why this is important. Hopefully we won’t have to cut. In the new list, it is divided into several smaller cuts. If we have to save something, we can cut less prioritized parts so as not to have to sacrifice the whole project, says Bolland.
Tags: Rumors death project exaggerated
