UPDATE: Thursday, 13:30
When Northvolt announced its lay-offs last fall, it quickly triggered similar actions from several local companies. Now, with the entire Swedish Northvolt operation facing bankruptcy, the consequences are likely to be even more severe.
– It is clear that this is a very tough blow for Skellefteå. This is the largest bankruptcy in Swedish industrial history, says city manager, Kristina Sundin Jonsson.
She fears that more negative news will await the local business community.
– Local, regional, national, and international businesses will be affected by this in different ways. And we haven't seen the full extent of the effects yet, she says.
Around 2010, Skellefteå reversed a negative population trend and has since experienced growth.
– In Skellefteå, we have faced crises before, and we have been able to handle them well. However, this crisis will require national commitment, says Sundin Jonsson.
She hopes that the bankruptcy trustee will continue to operate the business until a new owner can be found.
– We currently have a functioning battery production facility in Skellefteå. There are both products and customers. So, we hope that a solution will be found as soon as possible, she says.
UPDATE: Thursday, 11:15
Production at the battery factory continues
Yesterday, production at Northvolt Ett was paused, according to Matti Kataja, communications manager at Northvolt.
On Wednesday morning, the company took the staff away from the production lines to have an information meeting where they talked about the bankruptcy
– Following that, we held meetings in smaller groups within the departments, and then we paused production.
– We also had an internal, local information meeting after lunch. The morning meeting was for the entire Northvolt. A representative from the bankruptcy trustee also attended a meeting. Matti Kataja says that they had decided to cancel the afternoon and night shifts.
– We resumed operations this morning at 07:00 and restarted production. Now, the whole of Northvolt Ett is operational again, as usual.
The plan is to maintain production until further notice.
– Currently, we are operating under the direction of the bankruptcy trustee, who has requested that we continue production, and that is what we are doing.