A group of environmental activists has sabotaged the planned Northvolt battery factory in Canada. The Swedish battery manufacturer, Northvolt, known for building large battery cell factories in Europe, announced last year that it would enter the North American market by opening a new 30 GWh battery factory in Quebec, Canada.
The factory is set to be built between McMasterville and Saint-Basile-le-Grand, on the southern outskirts of Montreal.
The project has received significant government support, with the Quebec government providing $2.9 billion and the federal government contributing $4.4 billion.
However, the invested money has faced strong criticism.
The Quebec Center for Human Rights and the Environment (Centre québécois du droit de l’environnement – CQDE) has filed a request to suspend the project due to “concerns about biodiversity” on the factory site, stating that it is a “habitat for many endangered or vulnerable animal species”.
The proceedings for the suspension request have been ongoing since last week when Northvolt started cutting down trees on the factory site.
The first public hearing was scheduled for this morning but has been postponed until tomorrow.
Separately, a group of activists carried out sabotage on the planned factory site last night. They installed steel rods and nails in the trees to prevent the tree-cutting machinery from operating on the factory premises. Northvolt confirmed the sabotage.
The Quebec newspaper La Presse reported that they received an anonymous message from those responsible for the sabotage. They claim to have “armed the forest” to protect it in a way that would not cause damage.
They also wrote:
“Despite the minimal impact on the condition of the trees, these metal objects hinder the tree-cutting machinery’s work”.
Regarding the reasons for the act of sabotage, the group appears to share the concerns of the environmental group that initiated the legal proceedings but also condemn the Quebec government’s contribution to the project, believing it supports “car culture” at the expense of the region’s struggling public transportation.
FAQ:
1. Is Northvolt building a new battery factory in Canada?
Yes, the Swedish battery manufacturer, Northvolt, plans to open a new 30 GWh battery factory in Quebec, Canada.
2. Where will the factory be located?
The factory will be built between McMasterville and Saint-Basile-le-Grand, on the southern outskirts of Montreal.
3. What government support did this project receive?
The project received significant government support. The Quebec government provided $2.9 billion, and the federal government contributed $4.4 billion.
4. Who filed a request to suspend the project?
The Quebec Center for Human Rights and the Environment (Centre québécois du droit de l’environnement – CQDE) filed a request to suspend the project due to concerns about biodiversity on the factory site.
5. Who were the perpetrators of the sabotage on the planned factory site?
A group of activists carried out the sabotage on the planned factory site.
6. What were the motivations for committing the act of sabotage?
The group of activists shares the concerns of the environmental group that initiated the legal proceedings. Additionally, they condemn the Quebec government for supporting “car culture” at the expense of public transportation.
Definitions:
1. GWh – gigawatt-hour, a unit used to express the amount of electrical energy.
2. Biodiversity – the variety of living species in a particular ecosystem.
Suggested Related Links:
– More information about Northvolt: Northvolt
– Quebec government: quebec.ca
– Public transportation in Quebec: stm.info
The source of the article is from the blog radiohotmusic.it