Torsboda Industrial Park and PTL have concluded the agreement signed by the parties in 2023 for the transfer of land for an industrial establishment. Torsboda Industrial Park is thus continuing to work with other stakeholders but at the same time has the window open for an anode factory in some form.
“The termination is at PTL's initiative because they no longer see that they can implement the project based on the business plan they had,” says Christian Söderberg, CEO of Torsboda Industrial Park. It is very sad that the processes have dragged on so that our common vision cannot become a reality.
When PTL signed an agreement with Torsboda Industrial Park in spring 2023 for land for the establishment of an anode factory, the law on foreign direct investment in Sweden did not exist. In December 2024, the Swedish Inspectorate for Strategic Products said no to the investment as PTL could not meet requirements concerning, among other things, Swedish majority ownership and Swedish citizens in key positions. PTL has appealed the decision but does not see that they can continue the project given the time delays and changing circumstances.
The closing agreement now drawn up between Torsboda Industrial Park and PTL makes it clear that the parties have no commitments to each other, but it also describes a common will to work to ensure that the project can continue in some form with a new developer.
“We are free to sell the land to someone else,” says Christian Söderberg. PTL has talked to us that a new performer could be a possible way forward. We are in favour of initiatives that could make the anode factory possible, but are currently unable to assess how likely such a solution is or what a timetable might look like.
Efforts to attract other entrepreneurs are continuing with full force. Torsboda Industrial Park currently has dialogues with companies in Europe, North America and Asia in several different industries.
“To end a partnership that would provide 1,900 direct jobs is obviously disappointing. Here, the Swedish government has a lot to work on if we are to stand up to international competition as the battery industry grows,” says Stefan Dalin (S), Chairman of the Municipal Board of Timrå and Chairman of Torsboda Industrial Park. We believe in the ability of our municipalities and the power of the green transition. With the good conditions we have here for electricity-intensive industry, we continue to work towards new business establishments.
“The importance of increasing the population and creating growth that can generate developed welfare remains. It is our firm belief that we municipalities need to do everything we can to capture the opportunities of the green transition,” says Niklas Säwén (S), Chairman of the Municipal Board of Sundsvall and Vice Chairman of Torsboda Industrial Park.
