A battery factory in Sweden was supposed to create 2,000 jobs. But now it's not going to happen anyway, according to both authorities and the Chinese owners.
Plans for a battery factory in Sweden must be scrapped. The project, which was supposed to create 2,000 jobs, does not meet the authorities' requirements.
That's what the Swedish TV station SVT writes.
In the spring of 2023, the companies PTL, or Shanghai Putailai, and Timrå Municipality presented a plan for the construction of a so-called anode factory in the industrial park in Torsboda.
The plant was to function as a subcontractor for Northvolt. And it was expected that 2,000 new people would be employed at the factory.
According to Yu Han, a spokesman for PTL, the Chinese find it regrettable that 'we now have to cancel the agreement'.
Chinese people are withdrawing – 2,000 new jobs are lost
– We regret that we have had to terminate the agreement with Torsboda Industripark.
– The anode factory in Timrå would have played a key role in a future Swedish battery industry and thus contributed to the green transition.
– But the delays mean that we have to put an end to it. Unfortunately, the business conditions for the investment no longer exist.
The Chinese group is now withdrawing from the project due to safety requirements from the Swedish authorities.
Shortly after the plans were announced, the Strategic Products Inspectorate (ISP) raised a number of questions about whether the Chinese plans for the area were safe from a security perspective.
The requirements from the authorities included, among other things, that the company should enter into a collaboration with a Swedish partner.
Furthermore, it was required that both the CEO and chairman of the board, as well as the majority of the members of the board, should be Swedish citizens.
PTL appealed the decision all the way to the Swedish government. But since then everything has dragged on, and now the Chinese themselves believe they have lost all patience with the Swedish systems.
In Torsboda, the area where the factory was intended to be built has already been cleared, as noted by city council member Stefan Dalin.
– I am still critical of the fact that it has taken so long. It impairs our competitive opportunities that it should take so long.
The factory was planned to be ready by next year at the latest. The future of the area is now uncertain. However, Timrå Municipality believes that jobs can easily be created on site.
– I'm not at all worried that we'll find someone who wants to establish themselves, says Stefan Dalin.
