The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service reports that Geir H. Haarde, minister of foreign affairs and the leader of the Independence Party, believes, similar to prime minister Halldór Ásgrímsson, that the Icelandic economy can accommodate three new heavy industry projects, a new aluminum smelter in Helguvík, an enlarged aluminum smelter in Straumsvík and a new aluminum smelter in northern Iceland.
During discussions of heavy industry in Althingi last Friday, prime minister Halldór Ásgrímsson said that he did not know any nation that did not want to utilize its natural resources and said it was to the benefit of the entire nation and to the country side [to proceed with the three new projects]. Geir H. Haarde agreed with the prime minister that it would be possible, over the next ten years, to enter into all the heavy industry projects currently under consideration. He did, however, qualify his statement by saying that economic effects, gaseous discharges, prudent energy generation and environmental “responsibility” would have to guide any decision to move forward.
