– What we were able to reveal was that Northvolt was dependent on China for a crucial part of its battery production: the cathode manufacturing, says investigative journalist Ulrika Nohlgren.
Last August, Norran revealed a stark discrepancy between Northvolt's public pronouncements and its actual practices.
The company was facing major challenges producing a critical component for its lithium-ion batteries and, consequently, purchased thousands of tons of ready-made material from China - a country from which Northvolt had explicitly stated it wanted to become independent.
Reporters Ulrika Nohlgren and Anna Wikner spearheaded the investigation, which is now the focus of Wednesday’s SVT current affairs show, Uppdrag Granskning (Mission: Investigation). The clip below is a much shorter version of the show but with English subtitles.
– We found that Northvolt was dependent on China for a vital element of its battery production—cathode manufacturing—because they were struggling with their own production capabilities, says Nohlgren.
Why is this so important?
– Peter Carlsson’s core message from the beginning was that Northvolt would oversee the entire battery production chain, ensuring independence from China, explains Anna Wikner.
What was your reaction when Uppdrag Granskning contacted you for an interview?
– It’s fantastic that they’re showcasing our local investigative journalism, and that they found it so compelling. A considerable portion of the episode highlights Norran and Skellefteå.
When Norran first published its article about Northvolt’s failed cathode production, the initial impact was muted.
– Yes, we were a bit surprised. It wasn’t until a few days later that Dagens Industri picked up our investigation, and then other media outlets followed suit. I think many people initially could hardly believe it, but Northvolt remained largely silent. But they have never disputed the accuracy of our reporting, says Nohlgren.
What impact do you think your revelations may have had?
– It’s hard to say definitively, but we suspect that our investigation was key to Northvolt investors fully grasping the severity of the situation, says Wikner. The full Uppdrag Granskning episode is now available on SVT Play.
– It appears that our investigation was instrumental in bringing the true extent of the problems to the attention of investors, says investigative journalist Anna Wikner.