Sami Parliament appeal rejected in Melkøya electrification case

The Borgarting Court of Appeal has rejected an appeal by the Sami Parliament (Sametinget) regarding the electrification of the Hammerfest LNG facility on Melkøya. The court ruled that the Ministry of Energy's August 2023 decision is valid and found no procedural errors in the decision-making process.

The Sami Parliament had sued the state, arguing that the approval for Equinor's gas plant electrification lacked proper consultation with the Sami people and failed to include necessary impact assessments regarding Sami culture and traditional livelihoods. A central point of contention was whether the electrification decision could be treated in isolation from the broader power and grid development it necessitates.

Sami Parliament President Silje Karine Muotka stated that while the parliament acknowledges the ruling, it maintains that Sami interests must have real influence in decisions affecting their natural resource base. She emphasized that the case concerns fundamental rights and the state's obligations toward the Sami as an indigenous people. The Sami Parliament is currently reviewing the court's reasoning to determine if the case should be appealed to the Supreme Court. The parliament has also been ordered to pay 516,750 NOK in legal costs.