In the autumn of 2022, Statkraft emptied the water reservoir in connection with a major rehabilitation of the dams at Trollheimen power plant. It also led to large amounts of mud from the mountain flowing into the river Surna, turning the river brown. Statkraft has subsequently apologized for the incident, and initiated a survey of the scope and consequences. Well, the State Administrator in Møre og Romsdal has to report the state-owned power company to the police. This is confirmed by the local police and the State Administrator himself. Statkraft is upgrading the dams in the mountain area of Trollheimen, a project for approx. NOK 650 million. It was in connection with this that the spill occurred. Photo: Marius André Jenssen Stenberg / news Excluded from the public domain The state administrator will not comment or provide insight either, basing this on the fact that the case is exempt from the public domain. The police will not say whether they want to start an investigation yet. Statkraft itself found out about the report via news, and therefore finds it difficult to comment without knowing more. – In general, we say that everyone is free to be critical of our business or report when you think it is right. This is a very unfortunate case, and we deeply regret what has happened, says regional director Kåre Hønsi in Statkraft. Kåre Hønsi is regional director for the central region of Statkraft. Photo: Marius André Jenssen Stenberg / news Can claim more embarrassments In the past, several members of the Energy and Environment Committee have reacted strongly to the case, asking Statkraft to clean it up. One year after the discharge, there were still significant amounts of sludge in the river, although some of it has been washed out. This is what COWI wrote in a report they have prepared on behalf of Statkraft. – We have carried out investigations for a year and a half. They conclude that there has been an improvement. But the river is not back to where it was, so we continue to work with further measures, says Hønsi. COWI writes that it may take one or more flushes to flush out what’s left, but they’re not sure that’s enough either. The Surna river was clearly brown in October 2022. Photo: Eirik Haukenes / news The report to COWI indicates that the discharge may have had a significant negative impact on the river’s ecology. The mud in the river has, among other things, meant that the young fish have very few places to hide. In addition, the river mussel population may have decreased by 23 per cent. Did you realize that salmon fishing in the rivers in Møre and Romsdal was almost halved in one year? It is a county with several popular rivers that attract visiting fishermen. Hoping to have the river restored Taken on 19 September 2023.Marius André Jenssen Stenberg Before Christmas, Statkraft had a meeting with NVE, the municipality, various research communities and the State Administrator to work on an action plan for what can be done with Surna. – There, we have worked together according to what we know, with which measures we want to proceed. That process continues, and we will take measures in 2024. Our aim is to restore the river back, says Hønsi in Statkraft. He is clear that they took measures from day one, primarily by releasing more water to get a washout in the river. NINA and Birdlife Norway have carried out their own investigations which have not yet been published. This picture is from September 2022, shortly after the release. Photo: Marius André Jenssen Stenberg / news The Elveeigarlaget in Surnadal has been clear that they too are considering reporting Statkraft to the police. They want to negotiate compensation. – In a meeting with the river owners’ association and the municipality, we have expressed that if our operations harm someone, we are also invited to take responsibility and compensate direct financial losses linked to the incident, says Hønsi.
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The state administrator in Møre og Romsdal reports to the police Statkraft after a sludge spill in Surna – news Møre og Romsdal – Local news, TV and radio
