Information about the Norwegian power system may in the future be classified. Today, a lot of information is open and available to everyone. This is even though Norwegian intelligence has for a long time warned against Russia in particular trying to damage Norwegian infrastructure. The proposal from the Norwegian Directorate of Water Resources and Energy (NVE) entails, among other things, that details about components in power plants must be kept secret. The same applies to maps and drawings of facilities with great importance for the power supply. Facilities under planning are also covered by NVE’s proposal. In Finnmark, managing director of Infranord SA, Oddbjørn Samuelsen, believes that NVE is very late. The country’s security – The strange thing is that they have left important information about the power system out in the open, while at the same time tightening the rules on so much else related to the country’s security, says Samuelsen. He believes it is worrying that transparency has not been tightened earlier. – The information in NVE’s open databases is terrifyingly detailed. Here you will find license applications with detailed information on historical data. Considering what is happening in Europe, we have been surprised that so much information is out in the open. Oddbjørn Samuelsen is managing director of Infranord, which consists of three power plants in Midt-Finnmark. Photo: Private – What are you worried about? – We are concerned that foreign powers can identify the most critical targets for sabotage, and then send in drones to hit the most critical parts of our network. He emphasizes that sensitive details relating to Infranord are not available to the public. – Through our management principles, sensitive power information cannot be shared with anyone other than trusted personnel, says Samuelsen. NVE wants to shield information about components, maps and drawings of the power plants in Norway. Photo: Allan Klo / news Looking forward to input NVE comments on Samuelsen’s actions as follows: – It is good that the managing director of Infranord Oddbjørn Samuelsen is getting involved and seems to support the changes we are now proposing, says department director for NVE’s supervision and preparedness department, Kristian Markegård. – These are important but difficult questions. We look forward to receiving input from both him and other actors in the consultation process, he says. Culture of openness CEO of Varanger Kraft, Terje Skansen, admits that a lot of information about the power systems can be too easily accessible. The power company is the largest in Finnmark, and is responsible for the power grid in the area towards the border with Russia. – In Norway, we have traditionally had a culture of openness that may have bordered on naivety. You can almost read about important and critical infrastructure on the internet, he says. Skansen emphasizes that Varanger Kraft has taken its precautions. – It has been a long time since we carried out strict measures in relation to what we make public of both infrastructure and the critical systems that are in our power system, he says. – At times we may have had a naive openness about this, says CEO of Varanger Kraft, Terje Skansen. Photo: news Power system not equipped for war NVE points out that today’s power system is robust, but not secured for war. Most of it is visible, whether it is dams, lines or production facilities. If everything were to be hidden, most of the facilities would have to be placed in the mountains, writes NVE in a press release. Director of Water Resources and Energy Kjetil Lund emphasizes that it is precisely the changes in the threat picture that make NVE want a change in the power emergency regulations. – Norway is one of the world’s most electrified countries. It has a number of advantages, but also makes us more vulnerable. If the power system stops working, Norway stops working, says Lund. – Norway is one of the world’s most electrified countries. It has a number of advantages, but also makes us more vulnerable, says director of watercourses and energy at NVE, Kjetil Lund. Photo: Aleksandr Nedbaev / news Unique power system in Norway According to NVE, the Norwegian power system differs from most other countries in Europe through centralized production and a good network. Many countries have poorer grids and a few large power plants. In Norway, there are 1,800 power stations across the country, and power grids that ensure the supply of electricity from several directions. – Building energy facilities, whether for power generation or cables, often creates a lot of commitment. People want information about facilities that affect them, which is understandable, as it should be in a free and democratic country, says Kjetil Lund. – At the same time, we must shield information about the power system that can be used to affect our society. This is a demanding balancing act, he emphasizes. Published 12.06.2024, at 21.10
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NVE wants secrecy about Norwegian power systems – news Troms and Finnmark
