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🇩🇰 Denmark /Energy & Infrastructure

Danish Island Læsø Scraps Electric Ferry Plan Amid Funding Shortfall

From Berlingske · () Danish

Translated from Danish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Læsø Municipality has abandoned plans for an electric ferry due to a lack of funding.
  • The municipality needed over 300 million Danish kroner for the ferry's construction and an additional 16-20 million kroner annually for operation.
  • Efforts to secure state financing were stalled by the recent general election and subsequent government negotiations.

Læsø Municipality, Denmark's smallest, has officially abandoned its pursuit of an electric ferry after failing to secure the necessary financing.

Mayor Niels Odgaard confirmed that the municipal council's decision to procure an electric ferry from Molslinjen will not proceed. The municipality has informed the transport minister that the tender process is being dropped. The financial gap for the project, which included over 300 million Danish kroner for construction and an annual operating cost of 16 to 20 million kroner, proved insurmountable.

Discussions with the state for financial support were ongoing. A meeting with the then-transport minister was scheduled before the general election in March, but it was postponed due to the election and subsequent government formation talks. Currently, two diesel-powered ferries operate the route between Læsø and Frederikshavn.

We have informed the transport minister that we are letting the tender fall. In relation to the offer that Molslinjen provided, we have not been able to finance it.

— Niels OdgaardThe mayor of Læsø Municipality explained the decision to abandon the electric ferry project.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Berlingske in Danish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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