AVS. Arkitektúr verktækni skipulag - 01.12.2004, Síða 47

The environment of Reykjavlk has
changed a great deal since the
middle of the 60s when I returned
from my studies abroad. At that
time I had a wetsuit and oxygen
containers and dove for mussels in
Straumsvlk, Hvalfjörður and other
places. Often we went hiking on
the hills above Ferstikla, along the
old Þingvalla-road, to the Hengill-
valleys on Hellis-heath, along the
Skarðsmýrar-mountain, above
Kolviðar-hill and on the Vatnsleysa-
coast. These places are no longer
inviting for outdoor recreation.
Power works, high-voltage towers,
speed-roads and metal smelters
dominate the environment in almost
all these areas. And everything
indicates that the impact of heavy
industry in this area is far from over.
The R-party in Reykjavik promised
first that the electric power works at
Nesjavellir would be used to lower
the price of electricity in Reykjavik.
Instead that electricity went to the
smelter, Norðurál for a price below
the market.
During the still weather last summer
it was reported in the news that air
pollution in Reykjavik was near-
ing danger limits. Sulphur pollution
in the area from Grundartangi to
Straumsvik will almost double in the
near future. This is a result of the
intended enlargement of Norðurál,
the permitted enlargement of ÍSAL
and the intended electric termi-
nal factory in Katanes. It can be
expected that this will result in dan-
gerous levels of air pollution in this
area. The gas, sulphur oxide (SO2)
causes air pollution and acid rain.
According to information on the web
of the Statistical Bureau of lceland
the total emission from human
activities of SO2 in lceland was 9,8
thousand tons in 2002. In compari-
son the yearly emission of SO2 in
Denmark is 28 thousand tons, in
Norway 26 t.t., in Sweden, 56 t.t.,
and in Finland 74 thousand tons.
Permitted increase of
SO2 emission in the
enlargement of the
aluminium smelter
at Grundartangi is
1,7 thousand tons,
Reyðarál 4,1 t.t.,
with 0,7 thousand
tons from the elec-
tric terminal factory.
This increase totals
10,4 thousand tons
and the total yearly
emission in lceland
of SO2 will then be
20,2 thousand tons
and getting close to
the total emission of Denmark and
Norway. Most of this emission takes
part in the area from Straumsvík to
Hvalfjörður. I have tried to obtain
information about the log term
effects of this emission on people,
animals and plants but with no
results.
One has to pose the question,
what interests are being served by
this irresponsible development? The
real benefits from this heavy industry
go to the owners abroad. The return
on investment in the power plants
is low. The jobs created are few
compared to the investment in the
infrastructure. But why is this then
being done? The answer is obvi-
ous. The State, Landsvirkjun and
the local authorities are the greatest
employers of all engineers, natural
scientists, geologists, archaeologists
etc. If any of these people object
to these policies they are simply
„put on ice“. The same applies to
contractors who have to obtain new
and new work. The momentum of
all these interests is so strong that
it can only be stopped by a long
term change in policies and atti-
tudes. One action would, however,
result in a dramatic change fit for
today. Privatise the State Power
Company (Landsvirkjun). Then these
hazardous and not very profitable
power works would immediately
be stopped and the country left in
peace.
The present day power plant policy
could be likened to the folk tale:
„Neyttu á meðan á nefinu sten-
dur.“ The power-plant woman says
„Someone in the kingdom is still
shouting". „Who are they calling
and why? asks her husband. „They
are calling for me to hold a baby at
a christening", says his wife. „Go
then“ says her husband. Everything
now indicates that the power-plant
folk tale will end as the above folk
tale. The butter will be finished and
husband knocked out. ■
avs 47