Svalbard After coal
Longyearbyen after the end of Norwegian coal mining, from the power supply to the clean-up of the old sites.
Where it stands
Store Norske (the state-owned mining company) closed Mine 7 on 4 May 2026, ending Norwegian coal mining on Svalbard. The mine stopped producing coal on 30 June 2025.
Longyearbyen's power has come from diesel since 2023. Since summer 2026 a solar plant also feeds surplus power into the town's grid.
A new energy plant is planned at Hotellneset. Store Norske moved the start of foundation work to spring 2027 and invited residents to a public meeting on the plans in October.
Store Norske and Longyearbyen lokalstyre (the local council) are cleaning up old landfills and mining sites under one joint contract, won by the contractor LNS Spitsbergen.
Reports
- Report6 November 2026Fiskaa asks if Mine 7 plant can stay as heritageStortinget
- Report6 November 2026Council upholds refusal of 88 rooms for visiting workersLongyearbyen lokalstyre
- Report28 October 2026Hotellneset power plant: streets dug up from 2028, plant ready in 2031Governor of Svalbard
- Report22 October 2026Huset marks 75 years since it opened in 1951Svalbard Museum on Facebook
- In full15 October 2026Choosing local architects in Nedre GruvedalenStore Norske
- In full12 October 2026Store Norske invites to public meeting on Hotellneset energy plantStore Norske
- In full6 October 2026Store Norske resumes work on new homes in Nedre GruvedalenStore Norske
- In full24 September 2026The council periodically closes road 400 up to Gruve 7Longyearbyen lokalstyre
- In full4 September 2026LNS Spitsbergen won the tender for environmental projectsStore Norske
- In full10 July 2026Saves 50 million on new environmental collaborationStore Norske
Tags in this topic
Coal 13Mine 7 8Power plant 6Store Norske 31