This is a debate article. The opinions expressed in the text are the writer's own.
Jakob Burman of the Social Democrats thinks the idea to turn the bankrupt Northvolt factory into a prison is extreme, but his criticism of the idea misses the main point.
For us, it's not about making fun of the workers or giving up on Skellefteå and northern Sweden. Instead, it's about looking at the situation realistically and finding a solution that is both practical and responsible, considering the problems we are facing.
The situation, which hasn't been helped by the local Social Democrats focusing very heavily on battery production and green industry as the basis for Skellefteå's future economy and taxes, has not only led to some bad investments and worse profits, for example, for Skellefteå Kraft. It has also resulted in political choices that have made the green transition, more than other important things, a big part of the local political story for the future.
Burman says this in his opinion piece when he writes: “…the factory must continue.”
When politicians decide that a certain part of the economy “must” work, it often means that the market and real conditions are ignored.
This is risky, especially when pension money is used like investment money in new businesses.
The truth is that Northvolt has not provided the long-term stability and economic profits that were hoped for. We can be sad about this or start looking at new possibilities. We think the second option is more sensible than trying to force certain business ideas to work.
Turning part of the factory into a prison is, in that context, just one of many ideas that can certainly be discussed. This doesn't mean that the original business idea should be forgotten. Many things can still happen around the Northvolt factory, and news reports suggest that bigger international companies seem interested.
Like many others, we think it would be good if a new, successful owner took over the factory – but we are realistic. If this doesn't happen, all other options must be considered, because if the current situation continues, it won't be good for either Skellefteå or Sweden. No one gains from the factory being empty, especially not the city, since Skellefteå’s growth is closely linked to the factory’s potential success.
To then call government jobs “a mockery” and not be open to new solutions that create real, new jobs seems overly ideological and not seeing the bigger picture.
Translated by Paul Connolly