Spitsbergen mining plans spurs controversy
The company Store Norske wants the Norwegian state to spend 700 million NOK on a new coal mine at Spitsbergen. Environmentalists say they will fight the plans.
Reserves in the local Svea mine in running out in 6-7 years, and the Store Norske company now lobbies the opening of a new mine in the area. The mining plans are supported by local authorities, NRK reports. -The local politicians will vote for this, leader of the Longyearbyen local council, Mr. Kjell Mork says. For us, it is of major importance that we have an operating coal company, he adds, highlighting that about half of all inhabitants in Longyearbyen is fully or partly dependent of the coal industry. The World Wildlife Fund meanwhile believes that Spitsbergen will do fine without the coal miners. WWF Norway leader Rasmus Hansson says his organisation will fight the plans for a new mine in the vulnerable nature environment.
