Last update:
2014-04-08

Hydroelectric Power Station, Laxá River, Skútustaðahreppur, Iceland


Description:

In the years 1969 to 1973 a conflict took place over the lake Mývatn and the river Laxá in the district of Skútustaðahreppur in Iceland. The company Laxárvirkjun, owned by the Icelandic state and the town of Akureyri, had plans to build a hydroelectric power station in the Laxá river. The plan included redirecting 3 rivers into lake Mývatn to generate more power, as well as building a 37-57 m high dam, with the consequence of putting the entire valley of Laxárdalur under water. The farmers of the valley were not offered compensation for their properties and land but instead they were given a date when the river valley would be flooded.

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Basic Data
Name of conflict:Hydroelectric Power Station, Laxá River, Skútustaðahreppur, Iceland
Country:Iceland
State or province:Skútustaðahreppur
Accuracy of locationHIGH (Local level)
Source of Conflict
Type of conflict. 1st level:Water Management
Type of conflict. 2nd level:Dams and water distribution conflicts
Specific commodities:Electricity
Biological resources
Water
Project Details and Actors
Project details

The dam that needed to be built for the power station would be 37-57 meters high. As a part of the project it was also suggested that 3 rivers would be redirected and channelled into lake Mývatn to generate more power. (1)

Type of populationRural
Start of the conflict:1969
Company names or state enterprises:Laxárvirkjun from Iceland
Relevant government actors:Laxárvirkjun
Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available:SUNN, Environmental protection Agency (no website, no information)
Conflict & Mobilization
IntensityHIGH (widespread, mass mobilization, violence, arrests, etc...)
Reaction stagePREVENTIVE resistance (precautionary phase)
Groups mobilizing:Farmers
Local ejos
Neighbours/citizens/communities
Forms of mobilization:Development of a network/collective action
Involvement of national and international NGOs
Lawsuits, court cases, judicial activism
Media based activism/alternative media
Sabotage
Street protest/marches
Property damage/arson
Impacts
Environmental ImpactsPotential: Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Floods (river, coastal, mudflow), Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation, Soil erosion, Deforestation and loss of vegetation cover, Large-scale disturbance of hydro and geological systems
Socio-economical ImpactsPotential: Displacement, Lack of work security, labour absenteeism, firings, unemployment, Loss of livelihood, Land dispossession, Loss of landscape/sense of place
Outcome
Project StatusStopped
Conflict outcome / response:Project cancelled
Withdrawal of company/investment
As a result of public resistance, the company ceased from their plan to build the dam and hydroelectric power station and thus also from putting the whole valley of Laxárdalur under water. (1)
Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?:Yes
Briefly explain:After a long and complicated legal process the company did not build the dam but instead built a smaller flow power station that did not have severe effects on the people of the land and that would not result in expropriation.
The lake Mývatn and the river Laxá were given special protection under the legislative act no. 36/1974 which later became act no. 97/2004 due to reformation in 2004. A nature research center, Ramý, was founded along with the protection law in 1974 and since 1977 the lake with surrounding area has been a Ramsar site. The lake and river are on the tentative list of UNESCO and has been since 2011. (1, 2)
Sources & Materials
Juridical relevant texts related to the conflict (laws, legislations, EIAs, etc)

Ramsar,
[click to view]

Icelandic Act No. 97/2004

References to published books, academic articles, movies or published documentaries

(1) Sigurjónsdóttir, Sigríður Bylgja. 2012. What changed in 43 years? A comparison of the River Laxá dispute with perspectives towards the proposed Bjarnarflag geothermal power station in Skútustaðahreppur, Iceland. Master thesis, Human Geography Departme
[click to view]

(2) Mývatn and Laxá, Unesco,
[click to view]

Meta information
Contributor:Linda Dubec
Last update18/08/2019
Conflict ID:409
Comments
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