Powerplant

Norway’s longest-lasting coal power plant, the Power Plant in Longyearbyen, has played a crucial role in the town’s history.
Its initial installation in 1909 aimed to replace horse-powered facilities, improve miners’ lives, and enhance profits. The remnants of the first plant can still be seen at the Provianten car park. A larger power plant was established in 1920, featuring a steam boiler, turbines, and seawater intake for heating miner living spaces. The second plant, surviving World War II, is visible next to the current one.
After WWII, a new power plant was constructed in 1945 and operated until the transition from coal to diesel in 2023. Over 78 years, it underwent size and air filtration upgrades to improve efficiency and cleanliness. Approximately one-third of Mine 7’s coal fueled the power plant. With its closure, the mine faces the same fate.