Schleswig-Holstein SPD Calls for Government Visit to Northvolt’s Swedish Facility Amid Concerns
The Social Democratic Party (SPD) parliamentary group in Schleswig-Holstein has urged Minister President Daniel Günther and Minister of Economic Affairs Claus Ruhe Madsen (both Christian Democratic Union, CDU) to accept Northvolt’s invitation to visit its factory in Sweden.
"It’s negligent that to this day, no representative of the state government has visited Sweden to gain firsthand insights," said Kianusch Stender, an SPD parliamentarian. "The economic situation of the Swedish battery manufacturer raises many questions."
According to Stender, the state government is investing a mid-three-digit million euro sum in Northvolt’s Heide plant. "It’s simply their duty to thoroughly inform themselves about the company that’s building a factory of such magnitude in our state."
Northvolt has repeatedly invited the Schleswig-Holstein state government to tour its battery cell factory in Skelleftea, Sweden. In July 2024, the company extended an invitation to the members of the Economic Affairs Committee to visit its first "gigafactory."
According to information from the German Press Agency, no member of the state government has yet visited Northvolt in Sweden.
Northvolt plans to produce battery cells for up to one million electric vehicles per year in Heide, but it has been struggling with financial problems for some time. In November, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States. This crisis could prove costly for the federal government and the state of Schleswig-Holstein. Northvolt has received around €600 million from the state-owned development bank KfW, which is jointly guaranteed by the federal government and the state.
In September, as part of its restructuring efforts, Northvolt announced the layoff of an estimated 1,600 employees in its home country of Sweden. However, the company’s battery plant under construction in Heide is reportedly unaffected by these measures.
Concerns Over Northvolt’s Financial Stability
SPD parliamentary group leader Thomas Losse-Müller expressed concern about Northvolt’s financial situation and its potential implications for the Heide plant. "We don’t have any reliable information about how the Chapter 11 bankruptcy will affect the company’s business in Schleswig-Holstein," he said. "We must know the facts to make informed decisions about our investment."
Losse-Müller urged the state government to actively monitor the situation and to take appropriate action if necessary. "Northvolt is an important company for Schleswig-Holstein and for the energy transition," he said. "We want the Heide plant to be a success, but we must also ensure that the state’s interests are protected."
Government Defends its Approach
Minister of Economic Affairs Madsen defended the government’s approach to the Northvolt project. He said that the state is in constant contact with the company and is closely monitoring its financial situation. Madsen emphasized that Northvolt’s U.S. bankruptcy filing did not affect the Heide plant, and that the company had reaffirmed its commitment to the project.
Madsen said that the state government was aware of Northvolt’s invitation to visit its Swedish facility, but that no concrete plans had yet been made. He said that the government would take up the invitation at an appropriate time.
The state government’s handling of the Northvolt project will continue to be closely scrutinized by the opposition and the public alike. The company’s financial troubles and the state’s significant investment in the Heide plant raise important questions about the government’s due diligence and its ability to protect the interests of its citizens.
