02.10.2024
Situation assessment of the land use disputes over Joddböle area
Open project database
At the request of the municipality of Inkoo, Akordi conducted a situation assessment in the summer of 2024 on the disputes surrounding the development of the Joddböle area.
A coal-fired power plant previously operated in Joddböle, Inkoo. The area is now used for soil extraction and port operations. A floating LNG terminal was anchored in the port in 2022. From the perspective of landowners and national political decision-makers, it is difficult to find a better location for the Norwegian steel factory Blastr Green Steel. However, the planning of the steel mill has given rise to disagreements and concerns in the municipality.
In the summer of 2024, Akordi interviewed 26 stakeholders in Inkoo. Based on the interviews, seven main themes emerged: environmental impacts, language and cultural change, factors contributing to Inkoo’s vitality, the municipality’s decision-making capacity, opportunities for Inkoo residents to participate and their information needs, the reliability of the project operator, and the role of the state.
The situation assessment revealed that the acceptability of Joddböle’s current and potential future industrial activities requires the production of transparent impact and monitoring data in collaboration with local residents. There is a perceived lack of information, particularly regarding the potential impacts of the steel factory on Inkoo: the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process and the assessment of the impacts of the municipal planning will provide information on environmental impacts as they progress, but neither of these will comprehensively address the economic, social, and cultural impacts on the municipality of Inkoo.
Another recommendation concerned collaborative noise and air quality monitoring. The noise and dust impacts of existing activities in Joddböle have been the subject of criticism for a long time. Based on interviews, a proposal was made for an operating model in which companies in Joddböle, together with key stakeholders and neighbors, would consider how to monitor perceived adverse effects in a credible manner and what measures could be taken to reduce them.
Thirdly, it was found that the reliability of impact assessment information in the eyes of citizens can be improved by jointly agreeing on a method for processing and testing the impact assessment information generated. If necessary, jointly agreed independent experts can be asked to assess the accuracy of the results or the adequacy of the reports, for example with regard to specific issues.
Read more: Akordi mapped disputes over the steel plant in Inkoo and paved the way for a constructive dialogue
Our report (in Finnish and Swedish): Tilannekuva Joddbölen maankäyttöön liittyvistä erimielisyyksistä & Situationskartläggning av oenigheterna kring markanvändning i Joddböle (2024). Akordi Oy publications.
Inkoo news 2.10.2024 (in Finnish): Tilannekartoitus pohjusti rakentavaa vuoropuhelua Joddbölen alueen kehittämisessä
