It was last year that the company announced that they wanted to build a large-scale plant for fossil-free steel production. According to the plans, the steelworks with 1,500 employees will be up and running in 2024.
The steelworks up in court
And now begins the next step in the process: the Land and Environmental Court’s main hearing on the admissibility issue H2GS’s intended activities. They should listen to the company’s presentations about the business they want to start.
– What the Land and Environment Court will try now is whether the activity is permissible, if the company can get what is called a building judgment. What you want to do then is to start the preparatory work to build a steel plant, says chief councilor Katarina Brodin.
The court will also try questions about water activities, they want to lead, among other things, about a stream that exists in this area, and some species protection issues.
Several have commented on the steelworks
Everyone involved can comment on the environmental process. In this case, several authorities such as the County Administrative Board, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the Swedish Armed Forces have commented, as well as around 40 private individuals.
– It is a process that is written, everyone does not have to come to the hearing, it is enough that you speak and then we take part in it.
The County Administrative Board of Norrbotten has, among other things, given the green light for the construction – but with certain requirements that the company must meet. It is mainly about the species protection of certain species in the area and about ensuring that the aquatic environment does not deteriorate.
Hear Chief Counsel Katarina Brodin explain the core issue in the main hearing and about the authorities’ statements in the video.