Financially pressured Stegra had applied for more, but the fact that it now amounted to 390 million kronor has to do with what the budget space looks like, explains Klara Helstad, Deputy Head of Department for Research, Innovation and Business Development at the Swedish Energy Agency.
There is more money left, available for 2025. However, the allocation to Industriklivet will be reduced next year.
Helstad points out that the decision was made based on the EU's approval for state aid and the appropriation letter the authority has received from the government. She does not want to acknowledge any pressure, from politicians or the company, or that the government has contributed more money.
"We have made an independent decision," she says.
"Government support is necessary for the industry to be able to take the technological leaps required to succeed in the transition," says Caroline Asserup, Director General of the Swedish Energy Agency, in a press release.
In early October, Stegra announced that it would need to raise an additional SEK 10 billion in capital. A month later, Stegra CEO Henrik Henriksson said that the owners had contributed about half of the SEK 10 billion and that the company hopes to get the rest from lenders.
The support of SEK 390 million from the Swedish Energy Agency is provided within the framework of the Industrial Step and has been approved by the EU Commission. Stegra has previously received SEK 1.2 billion in support from the Industrial Step but sought additional support from there after being rejected by the Climate Step.
