Kasper Roug, a Social Democrat member of Parliament, elected and residing on Lolland, has expressed clear frustration over the long delays surrounding the deepening and straightening of Nakskov Harbour’s shipping lane. He is now prepared to take drastic measures and consider a construction act to ensure the project’s progress.
Something needs to happen
The project has been in the works for six years—four of those with various state authorities—and even after all that time, the permit to deposit sediment in the Langelandsbælt is still not in place. Roug is visibly dissatisfied that Nakskov Harbour and surrounding businesses, including Vestas, are still waiting for the harbour to be accessible to larger ships.
– Something needs to happen now. We can’t wait any longer. We risk several hundred jobs—green jobs in the outskirts—in Nakskov if the shipping lane isn’t expanded. The government must find a solution, says Kasper Roug.
– I’m Fuming
One single complaint has delayed the entire process. The complaint comes from a biologist from Holstebro, who claims to represent the “Citizen Group Against Dredging.” However, it has proven difficult to find further information about this citizen group. The complaint has been under review by the Environmental and Food Appeals Board since May and is still awaiting a decision due to “missing information.”
Kasper Roug is now directing criticism toward his own government, particularly at Minister for the Environment Magnus Heunicke, who is Roug’s party colleague and responsible for the Danish Environmental Protection Agency.
– The Environmental Protection Agency falls under the Minister for the Environment, so the minister must step into the matter. This is poor governance. I don’t really care what the solution is, but a solution needs to be found. I’m angry… I’m fuming about this, says Roug.
A construction act could be made
As a possible way forward, Kasper Roug is now considering whether it is necessary to draft a construction act to get the project done. Although he points out that legislating for individual municipal projects should not become the norm, he believes the situation surrounding Nakskov Harbour is unique.
– The easiest thing might be to draft a construction act for the project, but we can’t legislate for every little municipal project. And here we have a DKK 40 million project that has doubled in cost in the meantime. And Vestas is not interested in investing further in Nakskov if their ships can’t get in and out of the harbour, says Kasper Roug.
