The Sámi Parliament has sued the state over the decision to electrify Melkøya Island.

Last year, the Norwegian government approved the electrification of the gas plant located on the island by 2030 for the oil and gas giant Equinor. At a press conference in Hammerfest on August 8, 2023, the government presented a plan to electrify the gas plant on Melkøya. In turn, the Sámi community opposed the decision, made without consulting the indigenous people, as it may disrupt reindeer herding and is illegitimate from a legal standpoint. The Norwegian government denies any procedural violations in the decision-making process.

When a conflict arises that cannot be resolved politically, it is only natural to turn to the court to resolve it, Sámi Parliament President Silje Karine Muotka said.

The call for annulment  of the Melkøya decision indicates a serious concern over decisions made without their consultation, which seems to be a requirement in matters affecting the Sámi people. 

We believe that the Melkøya decision can be legally challenged because it was not properly investigated. Furthermore, the usual procedural rules were violated. This is about the rule of law in land resource management in Norway, the Sámi Parliament President noted.

So far, the Arctic Century wrote earlier about the complaint by the Sámi Parliamentary Council of Finland registered at the UN Human Rights Committee.

Source: Arctic Century

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