Sámi Parliament appeals Melkøya electrification decision

The appeal process regarding the electrification of the Melkøya gas plant begins this week at the Borgarting Court of Appeal in Norway. The case centers on a legal dispute between the Sámi Parliament (Sámediggi) and the Norwegian state.

The Sámi Parliament is challenging the validity of the government's 2023 decision to electrify the facility, which aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by phasing out gas-powered electricity by 2030. The Sámi Parliament argues that the Ministry of Energy committed procedural errors by failing to fulfill its duty to consult under the Sami Act and by neglecting to conduct a comprehensive impact assessment regarding potential future power development.

In a previous ruling at the Oslo District Court, the state was found to have acted legally. The court determined that electrification does not automatically result in major natural interventions or new power infrastructure, meaning the state had no immediate duty to consult. The Sámi Parliament, describing the project as ‘the largest intervention case in Sami history’, has appealed this decision. Sámi Parliament President Silje Karine Muotka is expected to provide testimony during the proceedings.