In a press release the government of Norway announced that, following a thorough assessment process, Green Mountain and TikTok will be allowed to establishing data centers in Hamar and Løten,
Minister for Municipalities and Districts, Sigbjørn Gjelsvik stated: "The government has carried out thorough security assessments in connection with the fact that Green Mountain has entered into an agreement with TikTok as the only customer in the planned data center facility in Hamar and Løten municipality. We have not found grounds for intervening in the agreement itself, but I will subject Green Mountain to the Norwegian Security Act by decision."
The news that TikTok, a social media giant with Chinese ownership, would establish itself in Norway drew criticism from several politicians when it was first announced in March. To address national security considerations, the Minister for Municipalities and Districts, along with the Minister of Justice, examined the matter closely.
No threat to national security
Svein Atle Hagaseth, the managing director of Green Mountain: "We are pleased that the ministries have assessed that our establishment is not a threat to national security. But that is also what we have meant to ourselves all along."
With everything falling into place, this agreement is being hailed as the largest industrial agreement ever in the Inland region, both in terms of monetary value and scope. Hagaseth adds, "This is a significant achievement on an international level as well, and it acknowledges the data center strategy implemented by both the previous and current governments since 2018."
Opposition
Sofie Marhaug, spokesperson for energy and environmental policy in the Red Party, views this decision as a failure of environmental and energy policy. "Here the government is a big disappointment. We need electricity to cut emissions and new industrial workplaces that create the goods we need. Not for cat videos and other unnecessary things like TikTok, she said.
"It is completely unbelievable that the government has not made sure to set strict enough requirements for who can connect to the electricity grid", said Lars Haltbrekken of SV, the Socialist Left Party. He announces that SV will now take up the matter with the Minister of Business and Industry in parliament.
New bill on stricter regulation of data centers
Sigbjørn Gjelsvik concluded the press release with the following statement: "Norway is part of a global economy, and it is important that we have good investment conditions. Data centers have so far been too weakly regulated. That is why we are taking no action. The government plans to present a bill on stricter regulation of data centers to the Storting in the autumn. It is crucial that Norway facilitates a safe development of the digital infrastructure, which Norway needs in the future. This is important to take care of Norwegian interests, both when it comes to security, preparedness and our business life."
