Government criticized for complex jargon in battery factory funding debate in Norway

The government has employed terms such as “seed funding schemes,” “risk alleviation,” “pipeline for green projects,” and “risk loan schemes” to describe the financial support taken from the national budget and allocated to companies planning to build battery factories. In reality, these are subsidies. The government’s financial backing for battery factories was a key topic of discussion in a recent debate.

Language experts criticize the use of these complex terms. Linguist and author Helene Uri points out the absurdity and seriousness of such jargon. She emphasizes the importance of clear, understandable language when the government is managing public funds. “Politicians are elected by us to manage our money. We must understand what they are saying,” Uri states, highlighting that comprehensible communication is vital for democracy.

Economic Minister Cecilie Myrseth acknowledged the government’s need to use clearer language in industrial policy, admitting, “there are a lot of words; sometimes they get tangled.” When questioned about “risk alleviation,” she explained it involves the state’s role in sharing risk, which can mean various things, making it somewhat complex.

Despite investing billions in battery factories, no profit has been generated from batteries produced in Norway thus far. The government hopes that these investments will lead to a profitable battery industry in the future. They justify the subsidies as necessary to foster environmentally friendly industries as part of a “green industrial boost,” with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre calling it a collective responsibility to facilitate the green transition. Uri insists that regardless of the talk, the language used must remain clear, cautioning that incomprehensible political discourse is a serious issue.