BKW welcomes agreement in the mediation process concerning the Storheia and Roan wind farms in Norway

Constructive solution ends years of uncertainty

The reindeer herders and operators in a mediation process have found a constructive solution for the Storheia and Roan wind farms on the Fosen peninsula in Norway. The measures will ensure that the Sør-Fosen sijte and Nord-Fosen sijte are able to continue their traditional reindeer herding whilst safeguarding human rights. At the same time, they make it possible to continue operating the two wind farms for the full term of the licence.

Bern, 6 March 2024

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As a minority investor, BKW indirectly holds 11 per cent of the Fosen Vind wind farm portfolio on the Fosen peninsula in Norway. The installation was commissioned in August 2021. In October 2021, Norway's Supreme Court ruled that permits for two of the six wind farms - Storheia and Roan - would violate the international human rights of Sami reindeer herders unless satisfactory compensatory action was taken.

As a result of the judgement, the operators of the Roan and Storheia wind farms, joined by Sør-Fosen sijte and Nord-Fosen sijte, participated in a mediation process with the assistance of the Norwegian government. The position of BKW has always been that joint efforts from all parties are necessary to find practical solutions, and actively supported this on the wind farm committees.

The parties to the mediation process agreed on measures for the Storheia wind farm back in December 2023. The same has now happened for the Roan wind farm - in early March 2024. The agreed measures will ensure that Sør-Fosen sijte and Nord-Fosen sijte are able to continue their traditional reindeer herding whilst safeguarding human rights. At the same time, they make it possible to continue operating the two wind farms for the full term of the licence. In doing so, the operators are fulfilling their responsibility to pay compensation for the use of the land and reduce the impact of the wind farm's operation.

BKW welcomes the agreement on a constructive solution for the Storheia and Roan wind farms, as well as the end of years of uncertainty for all parties. Sustainability plays a key role in BKW's strategy: BKW joined the United Nations Global Compact in February 2021. In the same year, BKW incorporated its commitment to observe human rights into its Code of Conduct (see press release dated 26 August 2021).