Norsk Kjernekraft - which aims to build, own and operate small modular reactor (SMR) power plants in Norway in collaboration with power-intensive industry - said the purpose of the agreement was to provide a better basis for decision-making. It involves initial investigation of all relevant locations for SMR power plants in the municipality.
The collaboration agreement had the approval of all municipal council representatives.
"As mayor, I am proud to have a forward-leaning municipal council that unanimously supported the cooperation agreement," said Lyngdal Mayor Unni Nilsen Husøy. "I believe that nuclear power will become an important part of future energy needs, and I look forward to further research and collaboration.
"In the future, we will be completely dependent on energy sources that require little land use and that produce low greenhouse gas emissions in order to be able to face the future, a future where we need predictability, stability and a reasonable power supply for industry and consumers."
Norsk Kjernekraft CEO Jonny Hesthammer added: "Another milestone has been reached for nuclear power in Norway. Lyngdal municipality is forward-leaning and shows commitment to providing enough reliable power to secure future jobs and at the same time safeguard vulnerable nature.
"Nuclear power is a sustainable energy source with very low greenhouse gas emissions. The energy source will be absolutely central to ensure the municipalities have enough electricity and at the same time ensure security of supply. We look forward to a constructive collaboration with the municipality."
Lyngdal - located in the Lister region, in the far west of Agder - becomes the second municipality in the county to sign such an agreement with Norsk Kjernekraft. Just last week, nearby Farsund announced it had signed an agreement with the company.
Also last week, Norsk Kjernekraft announced it had signed a cooperation agreement with the municipality of Lund in the southern Norwegian county of Rogaland.
Last month, Norsk Kjernekraft submitted a proposal to Norway's Ministry of Energy for an assessment into the construction of a power plant based on multiple SMRs in the north-eastern county of Finnmark. In April last year, the municipality of Vardø in Finnmark proposed nearby Svartnes as a possible site for a nuclear power plant to Norsk Kjernekraft, which aims to build, own and operate SMR power plants in Norway in collaboration with power-intensive industry.
In November, Norsk Kjernekraft submitted a proposal to the ministry for an assessment into the construction of an SMR power plant based in the municipalities of Aure and Heim in south-western Norway. In April this year, it initiated work on the impact assessment of a plot of land in Øygarden municipality, west of Bergen, to assess the possibility of establishing a nuclear power plant comprising up to five SMRs.
Last month, the Norwegian government appointed a committee to conduct a broad review and assessment of various aspects of a possible future establishment of nuclear power in the country. It must deliver its report by 1 April 2026.
