Suðvesturlínur - verkefnavefur

Southwest lines; a renewal of the energy transmission system in the Southwest of Iceland, is subject to the Environmental Impact Assessment Act, nr. 106/2000, addenda 1 and 2. The project also includes the construction of underground cables, who are strictly speaking not legally subject to an evaluation, according to the Act's second addendum.

Several options have been looked at in collaboration with the local municipalities and other stakeholders regarding the strengthening of the main transmission system of electrical energy in the Southwest, from Hellisheidi heath throughout the Reykjanes Peninsula.

In September 2006 a draft of a scoping document was laid down for power lines leading from Hellisheidi Heath to Straumsvik, aluminium factory. The plans have changed significantly since then and  the project was combined with another one, which covered the area from Hafnarfjordur town to Helguvik and the Reykjanes power plant.

Extensive collaboration
Extensive collaboration with the local municipalities has been made during the preperation of the project, and the project has been widely introduced, for example to licensors, legal referees, landowners, and other stakeholders. All comments have been duly considered.

The project's proposal of a scoping document was available to the public until December 16th, 2008, and introduced to agencies with legal obligations towards the evaluation process as well as various stakeholders. In January, the proposal of a scoping document was sent to be handled by the National Planning Agency.  It was again introduced to all stakeholders and referees, and open houses for the public were held in Reykjanesbaer, Vogar and Hafnarfjordur in February.

The National Planning Agency approved the proposal of a scoping document on March 26, 2009, which then became the basis for the Initial Environmental Statement which was again handed over to the National Planning Agency for review in May 20, 2009. Comments on the Initial Environmental Statement can be made till July 2, 2009.