Will have Melkøya's answer:

In Norway, a political controversy has emerged regarding the government's handling of energy planning and its connection to the Melkøya project on the island of Melkøya near Hammerfest. The issue centers around whether the government linked the approval of the Melkøya project—specifically the electrification of the Hammerfest LNG facility—with broader plans to expand power generation and grid infrastructure in Finnmark. This connection was first made public in 2023 when the government granted Equinor permission to proceed with the electrification of the site as part of efforts to reduce carbon emissions and extend the plant’s operational life.

The controversy has been brought to light by the control and constitutional committee of the Norwegian Parliament, which has raised concerns about the government's narrative surrounding these two initiatives. According to the committee, the government initially presented the Melkøya project and the proposed expansion of power production in Finnmark as closely related. However, recent statements from Energy Minister Terje Aasland have suggested that the two are separate issues, leading to accusations of inconsistency and lack of credibility.

The committee, acting on the initiative of the party Rødt, has sent a formal letter to Energy Minister Aasland demanding clarification on the relationship between the Melkøya project and the government’s promise to increase power capacity in Finnmark. The committee argues that the government effectively guaranteed that the significant power demand from Melkøya would not negatively impact other industries, assuming that sufficient wind power would be developed in the region. Now, according to the committee, the government appears to be downplaying this link, which they find untrustworthy.

The background of this situation dates back to 2023, when the government approved the Melkøya project, which is expected to consume more than three terawatt-hours annually—approximately two percent of Norway’s total electricity consumption. At the same time, the government pledged to ensure that enough new power generation would be built in Finnmark to meet the needs of the Melkøya project. This included a commitment to expanding wind power and grid infrastructure in the area, with a target of increasing power production by 350 megawatts within the decade.

However, the committee has pointed out discrepancies in the government’s claims. In particular, they referenced a note from the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) in 2023, which warned that all concession applications for power projects in Finnmark were "demanding" and had "low progress." Despite this warning, the government stated in 2023 that it was realistic to achieve the 350-megawatt expansion goal by 2030. The committee questions why the government presented this as feasible despite being alerted by its own experts that such progress might not be achievable.

Energy Minister Terje Aasland has previously claimed that the power requirements of the Melkøya project and the government’s push for increased power and grid capacity in Finnmark are unrelated. In a February statement published in *Dagsavisen*, Aasland said that the industrial and power boost in Finnmark was not a prerequisite for the electrification of Hammerfest LNG. Earlier this year, Aasland also told the Storting (Norwegian parliament) that the industrial and power boost was not a condition for proceeding with the Melkøya project.

This contradiction forms the basis of the committee’s inquiry. They question why the government created the impression in 2023 that the two decisions were closely connected, yet now seems to dismiss any such link. The committee is seeking clear answers from the minister before June 18, the deadline set for the department’s response.

The committee’s actions reflect growing scrutiny of the government’s energy policies, particularly concerning how commitments are made and later interpreted or revised. With the Melkøya project representing a major investment in both environmental sustainability and economic activity, the clarity of the government’s position on its connection to regional power development remains crucial. As the Energy Department prepares its response, the outcome could influence future policy discussions and public trust in governmental transparency.