80 Years – and Still Evolving

This year marks 80 years since the Norwegian Parliament decided to establish A/S Norsk Jernverk in Mo i Rana. It was a decision that would transform our town. It created jobs, attracted new residents and inspired optimism for the future, laying the foundation for the industrial community we have today.

When we opened the gates of Mo Industripark in August, it was therefore natural to celebrate this history. But for me, the Open Day was just as much about showing what has happened since the days of Norsk Jernverk – and what lies ahead.

Industry in Mo i Rana has never stood still.

When Norsk Jernverk was closed down, the old model of one large state-owned enterprise disappeared. But the expertise, infrastructure and industrial culture did not. They became the foundation for something new. Today, Mo Industripark is home to around 100 companies with approximately 3,000 employees and a far greater diversity of businesses than before.

The industry we know is also constantly evolving. A good example can be found in the air around us. Many people remember the stories of “the Red Town” and the red smoke from Norsk Jernverk. Later, airborne particulate matter became a significant challenge. In this issue of IndustriparkNytt, we can read that air quality has improved considerably over time. Today, Mo i Rana has air quality comparable to many other medium-sized towns in Norway. This is not the result of a single measure, but of systematic efforts involving emission control, paving, street sweeping, monitoring and follow-up.

This illustrates something important. Industrial development is not only about producing more. It is about producing better, more safely and more intelligently – and constantly looking for the next improvement.

We see the same thing in the field of energy. In the RECITHERM project, waste heat that currently has few applications will be explored as a resource for energy storage. A pilot plant is planned for the industrial park in 2029. It is a good example of how established industrial processes can be combined with research and new technology to create new opportunities.

A new type of industry has also arrived in Rana. The plans to transform Nordland Data from a cryptocurrency operation into an artificial intelligence data center demonstrate how rapidly the concept of industry is expanding.

Eighty years ago, iron and steel were at the heart of building the future in Mo i Rana. At the time, no one could have imagined the industrial park as it looks today. In the same way, we do not know exactly what types of businesses will occupy the area in 20, 50 or 80 years.

But we do know what it takes to get there: expertise, infrastructure, collaboration, development and a commitment to continuous improvement.

We should be proud of our history. And the best way to preserve that legacy is to continue developing it.

Categorised in: Frontpage, Industripark News