Thursday’s first reading of the bill on the element factory’s preservation became at times an ideological debate. Because although there is broad political agreement that the element factory must be preserved after the Fehmarn tunnel is completed, there is far from a consensus on how the ownership should be. The blue parties in the Danish Parliament do not believe that the state should be the factory owner.
Who will cover a deficit?
Lars Boje Mathiesen, one of the most vocal critics of state ownership, compared the situation to the state support for SAS and asked rhetorically: “Who will pay if the Sund & Bælt company runs a deficit?” He pressed for answers as to why the factory could not simply be sold and potentially reduce costs for users of the Fehmarn link.
Will sell at market price
Kim Edberg Andersen of Nye Borgerlige highlighted the issue of private interest, arguing that if the factory is really facing a boom time as other speakers suggested, private companies would already be lining up to buy. “If the selling price is 255 kroner plus VAT, we have to sell it for that,” Andersen said, arguing that market value should be the deciding factor.
Peter Juel-Jensen from Venstre expressed openness to selling, but pointed out that timing is crucial to ensure that the state does not suffer a large loss. Niels Flemming Hansen from De Konservative agreed with this view, suggesting that a sale could be relevant at a later date.
The Minister of Transport: State ownership a misunderstanding
Opposite was Transport Minister Thomas Danielsen, who tried to quell the debate by pointing out that the state’s role in owning the factory is misunderstood: “The state must not today and not in the future own any concrete production company,” he said, explaining that the state must simply own the building and the fixtures, while private companies must run the production.
Large majority for preservation
Although the debate about ownership was heated, it is clear that there is a large political majority in favor of preserving the element factory in Rødbyhavn. Only Enhedslisten, Alternativet and independent Lars Boje Mathiesen are against.
The bill will now proceed to consideration in the transport committee. The final decision on the element factory’s possible preservation is expected to be made before the end of the year.
