“Nordic Battery Belt” is an EU project funded by Interreg Botnia-Atlantica. The project aims to develop a strategy for sustainable and cost-efficient cross-border logistics for the emerging industrial battery cluster called the Nordic Battery Belt in the Kvarken region (Nordland in Norway, Västerbotten in Sweden, and Ostrobothnia in Finland).
Nordic Battery Belt Logistics Partnership Kicks Off in Skellefteå. Peter Karlstén presenting ongoing developments in Skellefteå
The project partners gather today in Skellefteå for a kick-off.
– The Nordic battery belt is coming into existence in front of our eyes. The subsequent enormous opportunities and challenges can be managed and utilized in a much more structured way if we coordinate our efforts across borders – not only between cities and regions but also between nations. Now more than ever, our Nordic cooperation and Kvarken cooperation can become forerunners and proudly show their strength, Mr Mathias Lindström, Director of the Kvarken Council, says and summarizes:
– The purpose of the kick-off is to anchor the project’s implementation in general, to hold a starting meeting with our contracted consultancy firm Ramboll, and to regard current events in Skellefteå, namely the development of the Northvolt gigafactory and its related challenges. The factory will start producing batteries in the city already this year.
Investigation of Local/Regional Supply Chains and Logistics Solutions for Battery Production
Ramboll has been recruited to investigate local/regional supply chains and logistics solutions for battery production.
– A rapidly expanding battery industry – in combination with the geographical locations of input goods and export markets – means that new transport needs will arise. The project aims to map these new product flows and analyse the need for improvements in terms of the region’s transport infrastructure and logistics solutions. This is where the consultancy firm’s contribution is essential.
– The project results will be used by the project partnership for discussions with investors and to strengthen the regions’ logistics and transport infrastructure, Mr Lindström explains.
Nordic Battery Belt Logistics
Nordic Battery Belt Logistics will produce a strategy that aims to contribute to sustainable and cost-effective transports in the region from a cross-border perspective. The purpose is to provide a better understanding of new logistics flows that are expected to emerge in the region due to ongoing and planned battery plant establishments. In other words, the project encompasses both an inventory and a strategy for how the region’s logistics supply and infrastructure should be developed to support the Nordic Battery Belt cluster’s development.
Partnership: Kvarken Council EGTC (lead part), the Vaasa Region Development Company VASEK, Skellefteå Municipality, and the Kokkola Region Development Company KOSEK. In addition, the project receives support from Rana Utvikling, MidtSkandia, and Future Cleantech Solutions.
Total budget: 300,000 EUR
Main financier: Interreg Botnia-Atlantica
Project timetable: 05/2021–10/2022
