The County Administrative Board and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency give H2 Green Steel the green light – but with some objections .
The next step in the permit process is now the building ruling, which will be decided in June.

H2 Green Steel has applied for an environmental permit to begin construction of the steelworks and the world’s largest green hydrogen plant at Boden industrial park. In its application, the company has requested a so-called building judgment, a permit to be able to begin the work that needs to be carried out (earthworks, foundations and certain constructions) in order for the business to be in place. In other words, work that can be carried out even if the final environmental permit has not been tested.

Both the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the County Administrative Board have now submitted their opinion to the Land and Environmental Court based on the environmental impact statement that the company has produced.

Want to move frog

Both instances say yes to the company receiving permission to proceed with, among other things, the earthworks that must be done before a steel plant can be built in Boden. The County Administrative Board also writes that there are reasons to grant the building judgment that the company has applied for. But at the same time wants the company to make certain clarifications and additions when it comes to species protection for individual animals and plants and when it comes to the aquatic environment.

One of these measures is about justifying an exemption application for moving Åkergrodor, which according to inventories is in the area and which is identified as a sensitive species.
H2 Green Steel has stated that they want to move the frogs to ensure that they are not damaged and the county administrative board writes that this measure requires an exemption. No formal exemption application has been presented to the authority and therefore they believe that the proposal needs to be supplemented.

The County Administrative Board also requests additional information for the main hearing to ensure that the environmental quality standards for water are not jeopardized, by reporting this in a stormwater management plan and that the environmental quality standards for air can be complied with.

The next step in the process is the Land and Environmental Court’s main hearing on the building ruling for H2 Green Steel’s intended activities. It is expected to be held in mid-June.

The main negotiation on terms for the company’s future operations is currently scheduled to take place in the autumn of 2022.