The atmosphere is characterized by mutual irritation and complicated concepts about the layout of the electricity grid when Minister of Climate, Energy and Utilities Lars Aagaard (M) defends himself again against a critical opposition on Tuesday.
Before the summer break, the minister's career was in danger because he had withheld information about delays in the expansion of the electricity grid from the Folketing.
Now the media outlet Finans has been able to report on a higher number of delays, which the parties in the Folketing have not been informed about. Lars Aagaard acknowledges that the new figures for delays could well have been shared with the parties in the Folketing. But he also disclaims responsibility.
- If someone had asked me - dear minister, should these figures be presented to the Folketing, I would have said yes. But no one has asked me, says Lars Aagaard.
Concern among both blocs
From the Unity List to the Denmark Democrats, there is concern about whether the minister has kept important information hidden from the Folketing again. The minister maintains that it has not been legally binding to tell the Folketing about the new figures for delays.
He repeatedly tries to explain that in his opinion these are completely different calculation methods that cannot be compared.
When the minister was in a storm before the summer holidays, it was based on a figure of 98 delayed electricity grid projects. Now Finans has received a figure from Energinet that shows 141 delays in the expansion of the electricity grid.
But the two figures cannot be compared, says Lars Aagaard, as the 98 delays are an expression of a structural change in relation to the original schedules, while the new figure of 141 delays is an expression of a more ongoing and fluctuating figure that changes every quarter.
- In the ministry's view, the 141 is not a good figure for understanding Energinet's challenges when we look at the electricity grid, says Lars Aagaard.
- That's because there are both old and new delays. Delays that have already been communicated previously to customers.
The minister points out that the expansion of the electricity grid will always be characterized by delays, and that the number will therefore change.
- It is clear that these are dynamic waters that we are in. So I expect that there will be ongoing adjustments to Energinet's portfolio. Some will be accurate, some will be delayed, he says.
Continued dissatisfied
The opposition is maintaining its dissatisfaction with the minister. Mads Fuglede of the Danish Democrats emphasizes the importance of trust and transparency after the process that took place in the spring.
Leila Stockmarr of the Green Party probes into whether the minister was informed when his head of department knew about it.
And Dina Raabjerg of the Conservatives almost ends up in a verbal spat with the minister when she wants to hear if there are other delays that he needs to tell about.
Lars Aagaard expresses that Dina Raabjerg asks so broadly that he has no chance of answering properly.
Initially, he answers the conservative climate spokesperson again with a message that there may be challenges in Energinet's canteen scheme that he is not aware of.
Dina Raabjerg thinks that is a substandard answer, and Lars Aagaard must try to smooth things over again.
- When I answer as I did before, it is because you tend to ask about everything. And I am subject to information about everything. So I ask that your questions be limited. Otherwise I cannot answer them.
/ritzau/
Text, graphics, images, sound, and other content on this website are protected under copyright law. DK Medier reserves all rights to the content, including the right to exploit the content for the purpose of text and data mining, cf. Section 11b of the Copyright Act and Article 4 of the DSM Directive.
Customers with IP agreements/major customer agreements may only share Danish Offshore Industry articles internally for the purpose of handling specific cases. Sharing in connection with specific cases refers to journaling, archiving, or similar uses.
Customers with a personal subscription/login may not share Danish Offshore Industry articles with individuals who do not themselves have a personal subscription to Danish Offshore Industry.
Any deviation from the above requires written consent from DK Medier.
