Removing the main obstacle to the Power Plant

A provisional license for the Hvammsvirkjun power plant was granted yesterday by the Environment and Energy Agency, valid for six months.

“I expect the provisional license to remain in effect until the application for a new permanent operating license has been processed. In that regard, we have removed the main obstacle by unequivocally authorizing changes to water bodies for hydropower projects,” said Minister for the Environment, Energy, and Climate Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson in an interview with Morgunblaðið, adding that he greatly welcomes the outcome.

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Landsvirkjun seeks temporary Power Plant permit

Hörður Arnarson, CEO of Landsvirkjun, expressed the same sentiment, noting that the company has another application in progress — for a new operating license, submitted in mid-July. “It should take no more than 14 weeks to get a decision on that,” Arnarson said.

“It’s very good to have the provisional license, but today we are also applying to Rangárþing ytra for a new construction permit so that we can continue with preparatory works,” he added, saying the processing of that application is expected to take only a few days.

“We hope the administrative process has been improved, as it has been lacking in this regard, because it’s very important for the project to get on track,” Arnarson said, adding that if all goes as planned, Hvammsvirkjun could begin operations in 2030.