Local Opposition Mounts Against Planned TNT Factory in Östra Hagen

Community group Bevara Nor leads opposition against Swebal's TNT factory plans due to environmental concerns.

Key Points

  • • Bevara Nor is leading the opposition against a TNT factory in Östra Hagen.
  • • Local politicians are criticized for a lack of transparency in the approval process.
  • • Concerns focus on environmental impact and inadequate investigation procedures.
  • • Environmental permit application submitted with a decision expected this fall.

A growing local opposition is coalescing against the proposed establishment of a TNT factory by Swebal in Östra Hagen, Sweden, initiated by the community group Bevara Nor. This group, actively campaigning for more than six months, has raised significant concerns regarding the environmental implications of the development, expressing that the area is the last untouched site around Vikern. Critics have pointed fingers at local politicians for a perceived lack of transparency in the decision-making process, with accusations of withholding information crucial to the public's understanding of the factory's impact. Moreover, they have targeted bureaucracy, claiming that investigations surrounding the environmental permit application were inadequately conducted. The permit application has already been submitted to the land and environmental court, with a detailed plan for the project expected to be reviewed this fall. Local residents like Mårten Prag and Torkel Freed are vocal proponents of their cause, emphasizing the need to preserve their community's environmental integrity amidst political dissatisfaction.