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Of: Anna Sjögren, Ebba Thornéus, TT
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The Preem oil group has decided to withdraw its controversial request to expand the Preemraff oil refinery in Lysekil.
This was stated by the company in a press release on Monday.
“A huge victory,” tweets climate activist Greta Thunberg.
The decision was made yesterday by the board of directors and, according to the company itself, it is totally commercial and has nothing to do with politics.
“The COVID-19 crisis and its effects on the global economy have contributed to the project being no longer commercially sustainable,” the company explains after the announcement to withdraw the controversial environmental permit application for Preemraff Lysekil and phase out the ROCC project.
– It is a commercial decision based on a balance between the profitability and the technical feasibility of the project. The decision to liquidate the project also makes the 2016 permit application out of date, writes Magnus Heimburg, Preem’s newly appointed chief executive, in a press release.
At Greenpeace, which campaigned against Preemraff and blocked the Lysekil refinery with the ship Rainbow Warrior, the mood is high after the announcement.
– Now we are celebrating, of course. This shows very clearly that it is possible to influence big and important decisions when many people come together and show what we want. This is a victory for both democracy and the future, says Isadora Wronski, Greenpeace director in Sweden.
Photo: JERKER IVARSSON
Preemraff in Lysekil.
Invest in renewables
Among other things, the company’s management mentions the reduction in fuel demand due to the pandemic and the economic crisis.
Oil company Preem will now invest in renewable production.
“Preem’s highest priority now is to accelerate the transition by initiating renewable production at the Lysekil refinery. Therefore, a new application will be submitted during the fall to allow large-scale production of renewable fuels at the refinery, ”the company writes.
Construction has become a very hot topic and ultimately it has been able to create a government crisis because the Green Party has strongly opposed it.
Emma Norén (MP), first vice president of the Lysekil municipality, tells TT that the decision is very gratifying.
Thunberg: huge victory
– Indicates that Preem has taken on the avalanche of criticism they have received and that they will return with the most timely application. I hope it is because they see that their application is not compatible with the climate promises and the Paris Agreement.
Climate activist Greta also writes on Twitter that the message is a “great victory for the climate movement” and believes the expansion could never have been in line with the Paris Agreement.
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