Following a process at the Halden Municipal Council over some time where the
Council had previously postponed a decision on the planning programme, the
Council has now adopted the planning programme for the ongoing zoning process at
the Norske Skog Saugbrugs industrial site. The decision enables Norske Skog to
continue the planning work and assess the potential establishment of a data
centre on parts of the site not required for fibre processing, paper production
and associated industrial activity.
The planning programme establishes the framework for the further work, including
technical studies and impact assessments of relevant environmental and societal
effects. Based on these assessments, a detailed zoning plan may subsequently be
prepared for public consultation and political consideration. The decision to
adopt the planning programme does not constitute approval to construct a data
centre.
The planning work will be carried out alongside continued fibre-based industrial
operations at Saugbrugs, including production on PM4 and PM5 and the planned
transition to the rebuilt PM6 from the first half of 2028. Norske Skog will
evaluate how available areas and existing industrial infrastructure can support
complementary future activities without compromising the continued operation and
development of the mill.
"We appreciate that Halden Municipal Council has enabled the planning process to
continue. This gives us the opportunity to properly assess how available parts
of the Saugbrugs site can be developed alongside continued industrial
production. The rebuilt PM6, NND's decommissioning activities and a potential
data centre could together generate significant investment, employment and
industrial activity, with positive long-term effects for Halden and the
surrounding region," says Geir Drangsland, CEO of Norske Skog.
About Norske Skog
Norske Skog is a producer of packaging paper and publication paper across four
mills in Europe. Packaging paper includes testliner and fluting and publication
paper includes newsprint and magazine paper. The annual production capacity of
packaging paper is 0.8 million tonnes, and the annual production capacity of
publication paper is 1.2 million tonnes. Packaging paper and publication paper
are sold through sales offices and agents. Norske Skog has approximately 1 650
employees and the parent company, Norske Skog ASA, a public limited liability
company, is incorporated in Norway and has its head office in Oslo. The company
is listed on Oslo Stock Exchange with the ticker NSKOG.
For further information:
Norske Skog media:
Vice President Communication and Public Affairs
Carsten Dybevig
Email: carsten.dybevig@norskeskog.com
Mob: +47 917 63 117
Norske Skog capital markets:
Senior Vice President Corporate Finance
Even Lund
Email: even.lund@norskeskog.com
Mob: +47 906 12 919
ance\
Even Lund\
Email: even.lund@norskeskog.com\
Mob: +47 906 12 919\