Statnett purchases Hafslund main grid facilities
(12/13/2010)
Statnett has signed an agreement with Hafslund ASA for the purchase of main grid facilities and associated properties in Oslo. The agreement has an upper limit of NOK 331 million and will enter into force at year-end.
The agreement relates to the acquisition of main grid sections at the stations Smestad, Sogn, Ulven and Furuset – and associated properties. These stations are intersections for the electricity supply into Oslo.
Hafslund has key expertise in the operation of cable facilities in this area, and will therefore continue to operate the cables between the Smestad, Sogn and Ulven stations.
As the transmission system operator, Statnett has conducted analyses of the supply situation in Eastern Norway. The analysis has shown that future main grid investments will be necessary in order to increase the transmission capacity in the region. Statnett’s acquisition of all main grid stations in the Oslo area means that Statnett will be in a better position to invest in this area.
-The number of inhabitants in the Oslo region is expected to increase by 30 per cent in the period leading up to 2030. To be able to handle the growth in population, the main grid must be developed. The fact that Statnett will now own all the station facilities will improve central grid coordination in the Oslo region. Our aim is to improve security of supply and contribute to continued value creation in Eastern Norway, says Auke Lont, president and CEO of Statnett.
-From an industrial perspective, it is more practical to have one main grid owner in Norway. The agreement which we have entered into entails that decisions relating to reinvestments and reinforcements of the main grid will not be affected by different companies owning different sections of the main grid. Furthermore, it means that, Statnett can implement the best socio-economic solutions in their investment programme, says president and CEO of Hafslund, Christian Berg.
Contacts in Hafslund:
Managing director, Hafslund Nett Jens Auset – tel. +47 911 44 701
Senior vice president, Communications and CR Karen Onsager – tel. + 47 920 87 007
Contacts in Statnett:
Executive vice president Bente Hagem – tel. + 47 913 54 720
Senior vice president, Communications Tor Inge Akselsen – tel. + 47 950 79 520
