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Norway's Statkraft Launches Hydropower Expansion Project

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Norwegian state-owned energy giant Statkraft will proceed with the construction of the Blafjell Pump project, an infrastructure project to optimize water inflows into Blasjo, the country's largest hydropower reservoir by energy capacity.

The 300 million Norwegian Krone ($31.48 million) asset upgrade is projected to increase annual electricity generation within the Ulla-Forre power plant complex by 54 gigawatt-hours, the company said.

Construction work is scheduled to begin immediately, following the awarding of key contracts worth a combined 250 million Norwegian Krone to four local and regional contractors across Karmoy, Suldal, Voss, and Grenland, it stated.

Statkraft aims to commission the Blafjell Pump by December 2027.

Concurrently, the utility will carry out mandatory regulatory dam safety modifications required by the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate on four structural barriers at the western end of Blasjo, with all site works slated for completion by 2028.

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