On the evening of 24 October 2021, three people got into a small boat to cross the Tokagjelet river at Kvamskogen in Vestland. They had done that several times before, but this evening the water flow was high and the boat was taken by the current. The three people fell 15-20 meters down a waterfall and lost their lives. The police investigated the case, but dismissed it as they found no sign of anything criminal. Afterwards, the bereaved demanded that the police investigate the case more closely. Just before the accident, a power company had started construction of a new power plant in the area. Now the head of prosecution Cathrine Melau in the West police district confirms that they have targeted the power company. – We have brought charges for possible violations of the Water Resources Act, she says to news. The waterfall in Tokagjelet in Kvamskogen claimed three lives in October 2021. Photo: Oddgeir Øystese / news Power company developed in the area It is the power company Clemens kraft that drove development in the area before the accident occurred. The police emphasize that they are not directly targeted for the accident, but for the work with the power plant. Melau tells news that the investigation is about security measures in connection with the development. – The police will now investigate whether the company did a good enough job of uncovering and locating hazards at the facility, she says. They will also investigate whether the company did enough to secure these possible dangers. The charge was taken in December, but it has not been known until now. See the difference in the area before and after the expansion of the power plant: Drop the case first In February 2022, the police dropped the case because they could not find anything punishable behind the accident. Later the same year, the case was reopened. The reason was complaints from the bereaved and information from the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE). NVE established supervision after the accident and concluded that sufficient safety measures had not been established in the development of the power plant. Now the police have been investigating the accident since September 2022. Ruth Wathne (68), Nils Johan Bårdsen (72) and Kjell Arne Pedersen (64) lost their lives in Tokagjelet. Photo: Linnea Skare Oskarsen / news Will question employees The company is charged with breaching the Water Resources Act. The purpose of the Act is to ensure socially responsible use and management of waterways and groundwater in Norway. – The company’s aim is to be able to obtain information we need in the investigation, explains Melau. The police are now working to interview current and former employees, in addition to obtaining information from Kvam here. – Do the police suspect that the company may have been at fault in the accident? – The conviction is not necessarily linked to the accident. It is like a backdrop and is the reason why the police and NVE are investigating it more closely, says Melau. – Can the scope be expanded? – We are not ruling anything out, says Melau. After the three people disappeared down the waterfall, an extensive rescue operation was launched. Photo: Oddgeir Øystese Does not wish to comment Director of Clemens kraft, Knud Nørve says they are aware of the accusation and have taken note of it. – I do not wish to comment further on the case as long as it is under investigation. The company has previously stated to news that development was not the cause of the fatal accident in Tokagjelet. After the accident, Norway’s Water and Energy Directorate (NVE) also set up a new inspection. They also wanted to investigate whether the conditions in the river were affected by the development of the new power plant. NVE states that they have followed up the power plant independently of the police investigation. – The power company has come up with new analyzes and several measures they have carried out, including signage and fencing, says section manager for supervision Lars Grøttå in NVE to news. In addition, according to NVE, there are plans to post gillnets in the river for parts of the year. – Such security measures are not something we only do once. We constantly assess whether the use of the watercourse changes, and whether the need for protection does as well.
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The power company Clemens kraft charged with possible violations of the law – news Vestland
