Today in Norway: A roundup of the latest news on Tuesday
Freezing rain reported in parts of the country, "Mission: Impossible" production not allowed to film on Svalbard and other news from Norway on Tuesday.
Freezing rain and challenging driving conditions
Freezing rain has been reported in Innlandet and Vestland on Monday evening. The Norwegian Public Road Administration is asking people to only drive if they have to.
"Freezing rain is a very special type of phenomenon where the rain freezes as soon as it hits a surface, either on the windscreen or as it hits the ground," traffic operator Anne Hårstad told the news bureau NTB.
Freezing rain is expected both in Innlandet and Vestland until Tuesday morning at 9 o'clock.
"The ice can be extremely difficult to see... It is completely impossible to prepare for, and that is what makes it so dangerous," Hårstad noted, adding that everyone who needs to drive should take their time and keep their distance from other cars.
Challenging driving conditions have also been reported in Viken, Vestfold and Telemark, Oslo, and Agder.
Electricity prices hit industrial companies in Norway
On Monday, it became known that Elkem was temporarily shutting down two smelting furnaces due to the electricity prices. The industry organization Norsk Industri fears more companies may do the same.
Director of Norsk Industri Stein Lier-Hansen believes that many industrial companies will stop production if the government does not regulate electricity prices, the newspaper Klassekampen reports.
"This is what we have feared. Unfortunately, we expected this to happen. When prices become so high that you cannot justify production, this is what happens," he said.
"Norway is profiting greatly from the energy crisis. We must… put in place industry guarantees to keep businesses afloat at a crucial point in time. The mainland industry is absolutely crucial to (Norway) succeeding in the green transition," he emphasized.
State Secretary Elisabeth Sæther in the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy told the newspaper that the government wants favourable fixed price agreements in place that can secure the conditions the industry needs.
Norway rejects "Mission: Impossible" production's request for filming on Svalbard
The producers of the next "Mission: Impossible" film hoped to shoot the movie in Svalbard. The Norwegian state turned them down.
In February last year, it became known that the next "Mission: Impossible" film received 68.8 million kroner through the Norwegian film incentive scheme to film scenes in Norway.
According to the newspaper Bergens Tidende, the producers of the eighth film in the series have considered Svalbard as a filming location.
However, the Ministry of Culture believes that the incentive scheme does not apply to filming in Svalbard. According to the Svalbard Act, Norwegian civil and criminal laws apply in Svalbard. Other statutory provisions do not apply unless specifically stipulated.
They believe that it would be contrary to the Svalbard Environment Act and the overall objectives of the Svalbard policy to change the scope of the regulations on this point.
Dag Asbjørnsen, section leader for international relations at the Norwegian Film Institute, confirms that the production in question will have to be carried out elsewhere.
"The regulation does not apply to Svalbard, and expenses in Svalbard, therefore, do not provide a basis for reimbursement through the incentive scheme," Asbjørnsen said.
In the past, scenes from "Mission: Impossible" films have been recorded at Preikestolen and Sunnmøre.
Ukrainian refugees' right to drive in Norway to be extended
Ukrainian refugees are getting an extended right to drive in Norway. The Norwegian Public Roads Administration aims to implement the proposed changes from February 1st, 2023.
The Norwegian Public Road Administration has submitted a proposal for consultation that the period during which Ukrainian driving licenses are recognized in Norway be extended from twelve months to up to three years, the Ministry of Transport announced in a press release.
Transport Minister Jon-Ivar Nygård (Ap) says that Ukrainian refugees should be confident that they can drive a car while staying in Norway.
"Earlier this year, we extended the period during which Ukrainian driving licenses are recognized from three months to one year. Many of the refugees have almost been here for a year. Many Ukrainians have driving licenses that they can use in Norway, but they will lose the right to drive if the regulations are not changed," Nygård said.
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Freezing rain and challenging driving conditions
Freezing rain has been reported in Innlandet and Vestland on Monday evening. The Norwegian Public Road Administration is asking people to only drive if they have to.
"Freezing rain is a very special type of phenomenon where the rain freezes as soon as it hits a surface, either on the windscreen or as it hits the ground," traffic operator Anne Hårstad told the news bureau NTB.
Freezing rain is expected both in Innlandet and Vestland until Tuesday morning at 9 o'clock.
"The ice can be extremely difficult to see... It is completely impossible to prepare for, and that is what makes it so dangerous," Hårstad noted, adding that everyone who needs to drive should take their time and keep their distance from other cars.
Challenging driving conditions have also been reported in Viken, Vestfold and Telemark, Oslo, and Agder.
Electricity prices hit industrial companies in Norway
On Monday, it became known that Elkem was temporarily shutting down two smelting furnaces due to the electricity prices. The industry organization Norsk Industri fears more companies may do the same.
Director of Norsk Industri Stein Lier-Hansen believes that many industrial companies will stop production if the government does not regulate electricity prices, the newspaper Klassekampen reports.
"This is what we have feared. Unfortunately, we expected this to happen. When prices become so high that you cannot justify production, this is what happens," he said.
"Norway is profiting greatly from the energy crisis. We must… put in place industry guarantees to keep businesses afloat at a crucial point in time. The mainland industry is absolutely crucial to (Norway) succeeding in the green transition," he emphasized.
State Secretary Elisabeth Sæther in the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy told the newspaper that the government wants favourable fixed price agreements in place that can secure the conditions the industry needs.
Norway rejects "Mission: Impossible" production's request for filming on Svalbard
The producers of the next "Mission: Impossible" film hoped to shoot the movie in Svalbard. The Norwegian state turned them down.
In February last year, it became known that the next "Mission: Impossible" film received 68.8 million kroner through the Norwegian film incentive scheme to film scenes in Norway.
According to the newspaper Bergens Tidende, the producers of the eighth film in the series have considered Svalbard as a filming location.
However, the Ministry of Culture believes that the incentive scheme does not apply to filming in Svalbard. According to the Svalbard Act, Norwegian civil and criminal laws apply in Svalbard. Other statutory provisions do not apply unless specifically stipulated.
They believe that it would be contrary to the Svalbard Environment Act and the overall objectives of the Svalbard policy to change the scope of the regulations on this point.
Dag Asbjørnsen, section leader for international relations at the Norwegian Film Institute, confirms that the production in question will have to be carried out elsewhere.
"The regulation does not apply to Svalbard, and expenses in Svalbard, therefore, do not provide a basis for reimbursement through the incentive scheme," Asbjørnsen said.
In the past, scenes from "Mission: Impossible" films have been recorded at Preikestolen and Sunnmøre.
Ukrainian refugees' right to drive in Norway to be extended
Ukrainian refugees are getting an extended right to drive in Norway. The Norwegian Public Roads Administration aims to implement the proposed changes from February 1st, 2023.
The Norwegian Public Road Administration has submitted a proposal for consultation that the period during which Ukrainian driving licenses are recognized in Norway be extended from twelve months to up to three years, the Ministry of Transport announced in a press release.
Transport Minister Jon-Ivar Nygård (Ap) says that Ukrainian refugees should be confident that they can drive a car while staying in Norway.
"Earlier this year, we extended the period during which Ukrainian driving licenses are recognized from three months to one year. Many of the refugees have almost been here for a year. Many Ukrainians have driving licenses that they can use in Norway, but they will lose the right to drive if the regulations are not changed," Nygård said.
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