The case in summary The Swedish environmental organization fears increased emissions in the Iddefjord when Nexans doubles its cable production in Halden. Among other things, the company has applied for permission to release 10 kilos of microplastics annually. The Swedish authorities, Strömstad municipality and the Directorate of Fisheries are among the players who are critical of the planned emissions. Nexans’ general manager says emissions will be reduced when they double production, because they are following recommendations from the municipality’s storm water supervisor. – For us, the Iddefjord is very important, says Per Nilsson of the Swedish Naturskyddsföreningen in Strömstad to news. The Swedes believe the fjord is a valuable natural area. It is therefore part of the EU’s list of protected areas. On the Norwegian side, the industrial giant Nexans is located. If you have driven into Norway over Svinesund, you have probably seen the country’s two tallest buildings, where the company makes cables for power and communication. The view from Nexan’s newest tower, which rises 155 meters above the ground. Photo: Per Øyvind Fange / news The newest tower was completed last year, and will help Nexans double its cable production. It provokes many on the Swedish side of the border. They fear increased production will lead to greater emissions. – I understand that it can be difficult from a Norwegian point of view to see what is so special about the Iddefjord. But there aren’t that many fjords in Sweden, says Nilsson. In Sweden, the entire fjord is called “Idefjorden”. In Norway, the part that runs from the Oslofjord into the center of Halden is called “Ringdalsfjorden”, while the part within the center is called “Iddefjorden”. Microplastics and volatile gases Nexans has, among other things, applied for permission for the following emissions: Around 10 kilos of microplastics in the fjord per year. Uncontaminated cooling water must be released into the fjord. Up to 20 tonnes of volatile organic compounds released into the air per year. Noise during loading of cables to ships. Halden Arbeiderblad and Strömstads Tidning have previously discussed the discharge application. This will happen at Nexans Nexans Halden has applied for a new operating license for increased production of cables. According to the application, it concerns a production of 70,000 tonnes, corresponding to 1,750 kilometers of produced cable per year. In practice, this is slightly more than doubling compared to today’s production, which is 28,000 tonnes. Nexans Halden has already built an additional tower to increase production capacity. Production of cables mainly takes place in closed processes. Purified process water must be discharged into the municipal sewage network, according to the consultation. Nexans is one of the world’s largest producers of submarine cables. The company is French-owned and has 1,600 employees in Norway. Nexans Norway AS head office is in Oslo and the Norwegian factories are in Rognan, Halden and Langhus. Nexans: Will be lower emissions The doubling of production will lead to lower diffuse emissions in the fjord, according to Nexans general manager Lars Christian Eriksen. He writes in an e-mail to news that emissions will be reduced, because the company follows the recommendations in the municipality’s storm water guide. When it comes to microplastics, Eriksen points out that, according to the Norwegian Environment Agency, around 19 tonnes of microplastics end up in Norwegian nature every year. – Nexan’s share of this total is therefore insignificant, he writes. The emissions to air will not have a significant impact on the climate or the regional air quality, according to the company. They also have plans to minimize the noise, for example by using their own cable vessels which are less noisy. The fjord was almost destroyed. Nilsson in the Naturskyddsföreningen calls for more thorough calculations, and is at least as concerned about what is not in the application. He recalls that the Iddefjorden was almost destroyed by previous industrial emissions. – You have to be extra careful about proposing increased emissions when you think about how much Norwegian society has invested in improving this environment. – The cables are for electrification. Could it be that you have to sacrifice some nature to bring about the green shift? – We are for green production. But it cannot be that we create a new problem to solve another. We should be at least as careful about environmental consequences in such cases. Natural environments are equally important and part of the climate solution, says Nilsson. Nexans is an international producer of power and communication cables with three production facilities in Norway. The factory in Halden was established in 1974 to manufacture submarine cables. The development of wind power and electrification of the shelf has increased demand for submarine power cables. Photo: Rainer Prang / news More critical voices The Swedish authorities also question the emission plans. In addition, Strömstad municipality believes that Nexans has taken a number of measures in recent years that can negatively affect human health and the environment. They ask the Norwegian authorities to make an overall assessment of the overall effects. The Directorate of Fisheries is also skeptical. They fear new stresses in an already heavily strained Oslofjord. “Microplastics that are released into the Ringdalsfjorden/Iddefjorden can be imagined to end up ‘right on the dinner table'”, the directorate writes in its consultation statement. Neighborly dispute over fjord depth The skepticism of new emissions from Nexans comes at the top of a decades-long neighborly dispute between the Norwegian and Swedish authorities over the fjord’s depth. The approach to Halden goes past a narrow, shallow passage with thresholds under water. The Norwegian authorities will cut these underwater thresholds so that shipping can enter the fjord more easily. The Swedes have repeatedly said flatly no to cutting the tops of the underwater mountains. The fjord is one of two Swedish threshold fjords, and has its own conservation plans. Nevertheless, NOK 106 million has now been set aside in the Norwegian national transport plan to deepen the fairway. – A very important question The Naturskyddsföreningen in Strömstad is very concerned that increased production is now being used as a crowbar to blow away the thresholds in the fjord. – For us in Sweden, this is a very important question, and in that case we protest, says Per Nilsson. Nexans rejects that their application for an operating license should act as a breaker bar to deepen the fjord. The state administrator in Østfold, Buskerud, Oslo and Akershus processes the application for an operating licence. A final decision is expected during the autumn. In the meantime, Nexans is allowed to produce cables in Halden in full, with the current emission permit which is over 15 years old. Published 01.08.2024, at 21.12
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The Swedes chastise Nexans’ emission plans in Svinesund – news Østfold – Local news, TV and radio
