There Were Supposed to Be Revenues, the Tax Never Came Into Force. Norway Withdraws Controversial Fee

The new climate fee came into force on March 1. It covered selected industrial plants using gas. Already on March 3, the government announced its postponement. The Ministry of Finance stated that the changes will not come into effect at least until July 1, 2026.

On February 27, the government announced that from March 1, companies such as porcelain manufacturer Figgjo would be subject to the CO2 fee. Two days later, the decision was reversed. The Ministry of Finance stated that implementation is being postponed. Additional information will be provided later.

Bjørn Arild Gram from the Centre Party said the government was forced to change its position. He indicated that the issue would return during work on the revised budget. The Centre Party, Conservative Party, Progress Party, and Christian Democratic Party agreed on a joint proposal. It calls for the suspension of the fee and further analysis of its effects.

The original plan assumed that the chemical industry and other plants would pay a quarter of the standard rate. The fee was to gradually increase to the full level over three years. Figgjo reported that in the first year, the cost would be NOK 550,000 with a 75% reduction. By 2030, the amount was expected to rise to NOK 3.3 million.

The company has annual revenues of NOK 100 million. Profit ranges from NOK 3 to 8 million per year. Company representatives pointed to a significant impact of the fee on financial results. After the postponement decision, the management assessed it as good news and announced they would await further dialogue with the authorities.

The industry organization Norsk Industri reported that the fee would also cover the Ålgård Offset printing house, parts manufacturer Benteler, recycling company Metallco, and metals producer Speira. Ålgård Offset estimated the cost at NOK 300,000 in the first year. By 2035, total gas and energy expenses were expected to increase from NOK 3.5 million to NOK 9.5 million, including the fee. The company indicated that rising costs would limit investment opportunities.

After the announcement of the suspension, company and industry organization representatives expressed relief. Politicians from the Conservative Party and Progress Party declared that they expect the fee to be completely withdrawn as part of work on the revised budget. The issue is to be the subject of further negotiations in the Storting, where a formal motion has been submitted to not introduce the regulations before reconsidering their effects.