In many Norwegian rivers, the choice is between wild salmon and the production of green energy. Very often, wild salmon have to give way to power production. One of these rivers is Skjoma in Nordland. The 62 kilometer long river in Narvik municipality was one of Norway’s best salmon rivers. Even English barons came to fish in the good river. But in 1969 everything changed. Since Skjomen power station was built over 50 years ago, almost all salmon and sea trout have disappeared. There were not as strict environmental requirements at that time. SKJOMEN: Frost and lack of water cause the salmon in the river to freeze and die Photo: Frida Brembo / news This led to too little water in the pupil for the fish, so that both salmon and fish eggs die when the river freezes in winter. Facts about the water shortage in Skjoma After 1970, the vast majority of hydropower concessions have a requirement for a minimum flow of water to the waterways. Why is there no minimum water flow requirement in Skjoma? 1969: A license for hydropower was granted by royal decree. 1973 Skjomen power plant in Sør-Skjomen opens for operation. 1973 – 1980: Skjomen power plant is expanded several times. In 1977, Båtsvann power plant was put into operation. It is located by the kobvannet on Skjomfjellet. In 1983, the Norddalen power plant was put into operation. All these power plants draw water from lakes that would naturally flow into the Skjoma watercourse. This has meant that Skjoma, which in its time was one of Norway’s best salmon rivers with a large and strong salmon population, has become a frozen bottom and a watercourse that is protected for fishing. It has been since 1997. The local population, the municipality and a collective environmental movement have for years feared for the salmon population, Statkraft has replied that they will lose money if they release more water. In 2020, the Norwegian Institute for Natural Research (NINA) determined that the situation for salmon and trout in the river is very serious. Now the Norwegian Directorate of Waterways and Energy (NVE) has reassessed the permit Statkraft received 50 years ago, together with 430 other Norwegian waterways. The question is: Will it be worth cutting renewable energy to save a small ecosystem? NVE puts its foot down Yes, says NVE in the conclusion that came on Thursday. – We recommend that the old conditions be replaced by modern license conditions for the regulation, says Inga Nordberg in NVE. Photo: Stig Storheil / NVE The clear recommendation from NVE is that Statkraft releases more water into the watercourse, both in summer and winter. The new conditions will give the authorities extended opportunities to order Statkraft to release enough water throughout the year to improve the rearing and living conditions for salmon and sea trout. NVE has sent a recommendation to the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, where they recommend that the old conditions be replaced by modern license conditions. They also want Statkraft to be required to draw up a plan to improve the biological conditions in Skjoma. Such a plan will involve natural science surveys, measures for outdoor life and cultural heritage surveys. – This will lead to significant environmental improvements in a watercourse with large and important environmental values, concludes director of the energy and licensing department of NVE, Inga Nordberg. – A provisional victory Geir Solmo in Skjomen has himself experienced that there was frost at the bottom of the river. He is happy with the conclusion from NVE. – This is a provisional victory for us. Geir Solmo, who is a board member of the Naturvernforbundet in Narvik and a member of the village committee, has been fighting for the Skjomenvassdraget for ten years. Photo: Frida Brembo-Egilsrud / news At the same time, he is excited about whether Statkraft will follow the recommendations from NVE. – In these times of power crisis, they will probably continue their argument about the need for power. But we can’t sacrifice all nature either. I hope the ministry will go in favor of the recommendation to NVE. Missing 40 GWh The power plant currently produces enough power to supply around 60,000 households with electricity a year. The proposed restrictions on water flow will result in a production loss of just under 40 GWh, compared to today. This amounts to the electricity consumption of approximately 2,000 households, according to Statkraft. But according to NVE, it will not affect the electricity supply in the region. This is not an insignificant loss of production, but NVE writes that they have placed great emphasis on consideration of the environmental values of the watercourse. In the coming years, NVE will carry out a new assessment of several waterways in Norway. – Orders on minimum water flow will be established in those cases where it provides the greatest environmental benefit. NVE believes Skjoma is one of them, says Nordberg. Statkraft: – Equivalent to electricity for 2,000 households Skjomen is one of 19 power plants in Norway with an installed output of 300 MW or more. Statkraft is responsible for the power plant in Skjoma. Today they received NVE’s proposal for new license conditions. In an email they write that they are surprised that NVE is proposing what they believe is a significant weakening of the regulation’s contribution to secure energy supply. Frozen salmon under the ice. But according to Statkraft, Skjomen is part of the backbone of Norwegian power supply and is important regionally and nationally. Photo: Hege Cathrine Paulsen/Hanne P. Brantsæggen / Private Statkraft believes that the production loss will represent a significant reduction in power production and thus lower income for society. – At a time when we need more renewable energy and it takes a long time to establish new power production, we are surprised that NVE is proposing new conditions that will result in a significant reduction in power production from Skjomen. From a political point of view, many are advocating for even better utilization of existing hydropower. This approach will not contribute to this, says regional director Dag Smedbold in Statkraft. According to Statkraft, Skjomen is part of the backbone of Norwegian power supply and is important regionally and nationally. – The power plant plays a significant role in ensuring that there is always enough power for residents and industry in a county with large power needs and vulnerable geography, writes Smedbold. Total production in the power plants included in the regulations is approximately 1.3 TWh/year. The present value of the production loss is estimated at approximately NOK 268 million. – We are particularly concerned about the proposal for a minimum water flow in winter, which will limit the regulation’s possibilities for energy production in periods when there is a high demand for power. We therefore believe that the costs for society are greater than the benefit in this approach from NVE, says Dag Smedbold. Statkraft will now go through the details of the setting. It is the Ministry of Oil and Energy (OED) that takes over further processing of the case and the final decision is taken by the King in Council.
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Statkraft wants to make as much electricity as possible – now NVE recommends that they release more water – news Nordland
