The energy crisis has increased the pressure to extend the life of the gas power plant at Mongstad, which is scheduled to be dismantled on 30 August. Now Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland (Ap) says that it is up to Statnett to assess the plan for the gas power plant. – If Statnett thinks Mongstad is important, they will propose this, he says. Such a recommendation will come in October at the earliest, when Statnett has a deadline to sort out measures to secure the Norwegian energy supply. This report is in turn sent to NVE, which will assess the measures on behalf of the ministry. Statnett cannot answer whether they will advise the ministry to save the gas power plant before this. – This is a current issue that we are working on. We can therefore neither confirm nor deny, says communications manager Irene Meldal at Statnett to NTB. In June, Statnett sent a letter to Equinor asking whether it is still appropriate to shut down the gas power plant at Mongstad as planned. Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland (Ap) received letters from several people on Wednesday urging them to intervene. Photo: Lise Åserud / NTB – It is important that we do not make hasty decisions Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland (Ap) – The Norwegian power system is normally exposed to large fluctuations in the inflows to the hydropower plants. That is why in Norway we have an established system for handling strained power situations. The energy authorities and Statnett have a number of tools to ensure Norwegian power supply. Earlier this summer, the Norwegian Directorate of Water Resources and Energy (NVE) asked Statnett by 1 October to investigate measures for highly strained power situations (SAKS measures). We are now entering a period where the magazines are being filled up, and developments in the coming months will be important. I would like to emphasize that the probability of rationing this winter is small. At the same time, it is important that security of supply is taken seriously, and we therefore follow developments closely. NVE, as the emergency response authority, will assess Statnett’s report as soon as it is available. It is important that we do not make hasty decisions. I will therefore wait to see what comes out of Statnett’s investigation. – A scandal about the gas power plant being shut down – This does not hold. It is completely meaningless to assess the need for Mongstad after it has closed down, says Høgre’s energy policy spokesperson, Nikolai Astrup. He adds: – If Statnett is adamant that we need the gas power plant at Mongstad through the winter (cf. the June letter, jou.anm.), then the government must urgently enter into a dialogue with Equinor about what is needed to delay the shutdown of the gas power plant. Aasland reinforces the impression of a government that is very far behind. Marius Arion Nilsen (Frp) in the energy and environment committee at the Storting says it will be “a scandal if the gas power plant at Mongstad is shut down, while the paralyzed government is waiting for an explanation from Statnett”. He claims: – It would be crazy if Norway were to reduce preparedness and shut down a gas-fired power plant, while other European countries are opening highly polluting coal-fired power plants. Ola Elvestuen is a parliamentary representative for the Liberal Party. – There is no reason to wait until October to decide. Statnett has been clear that the gas power plant at Mongstad should be kept up as a reserve for power supply. The minister must be able to immediately contact Statnett to clarify whether that is what they still mean and follow up based on that, he says. Expensive to start up once the plant has been dismantled Communications manager at Equinor Mongstad, Benedikte Fanebust Søreide, tells newspaper Nordhordland that it “will be technically possible”, but very expensive to start up again with gas power production once the plant has been dismantled. In a joint appeal to Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland (Ap) last week, Bergen Chamber of Commerce, Nordhordland Chamber of Commerce and Vestland Mayor Jon Askeland (Sp) asked that the minister quickly “get involved” and, for example, come up with a proposal for a splicing scheme which makes it more tempting for Equinor to extend the operation of the gas power plant. The gas power plant has been a costly “bite” for Equinor since its inception in 2010. Another proposal has been for the state – via Statnett – to buy the power plant and run it itself. In the past, Norsk Industri, Mongstad Industripark, Sylvi Listhaug (Frp) and Nikolai Astrup (H) have also advocated that the shutdown of the gas power plant at Mongstad must be delayed out of concern for Norwegian security of supply. Equinor CEO Anders Opedal has been clear that they are a normal listed company and that the supply situation is not their problem. – It is not our task to ensure the power backup in Norway, he told NTB last week. Sylvi Listhaug acknowledged that the state has large ownership interests in Equinor and that it is “natural that Equinor takes responsibility for ensuring emergency preparedness in Norway”. – I take the minister’s answer for information Jon Askeland (Sp), county mayor in Vestland – I take the minister’s answer for information, and expect that OED and Statnett are in close dialogue about being able to implement all possible measures to avoid rationing of current for the winter. This is the central thing for me to get insurance about. The Minister of State is responsible for avoiding rationing. The government cannot announce electricity rationing without taking measures to prevent it from happening, because it will have very harmful effects on employment, value creation and exports in Vestland. I fight for Vestland’s interests and expect the state to play a part! Tom-Christer Nilsen, leader of the Bergen business council – It is pure nonsense that the state cannot make an assessment before 1 October. It is pure disclaimer when the minister says that “if Statnett thinks this is important, they will propose it”. The deadline of 1 October does not apply to this case, but to an order for clarification for the whole country from OED to Statnett. We believe that if one takes that responsibility and the responsibility under the Energy Act seriously, a notice of closure of the gas power plant will trigger an obligation to assess the consequences of this for the power supply and security of supply in the Bergen area, and to implement measures. Then it must be done before it is not possible to prevent the consequences. In today’s situation, where the minister himself has announced major challenges this winter, it must be allowed to act, not wait. We dare to remind you that all actors in this picture are subject to the OED’s regulatory regime, and that it is too late to cheat when the nose is gone. Børge Brundtland, day-to-day manager of Industrial Development growth – Access to more power can provide significant new jobs. Therefore, all measures, such as extending the operation of the thermal power plant, will be very important for the region. But it requires a quick decision. FRP leader Sylvi Listhaug says it is “against common sense” to shut down the gas power plant. Photo: William Jobling / news – This matter is too important for the game of pointing SV, Raudt and MDG are happy that the gas power plant is being shut down, on the grounds that polluting gas power plants do not harmonize with the climate goals. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap) has, like the energy minister, said that he does not want to conclude for the time being whether the government should save Mongstad. Baste Tveito is the leader of the Nordhordland business association, which last week asked the government to show action. – This matter is too important for the Prime Minister and other top managers in state-owned and state-owned companies to play the game of pretend. I like to think that someone will take responsibility so that this is clarified in good time before 30 August, he says.
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The state postpones the gas power decision until after the shutdown – news Vestland
