A major conflict of interest case is unfolding in Southern Norway, raising questions about public trust and infrastructure governance. Ola Olsbu, the Transport and Property Director for Agder County, has been called to a formal clarification meeting with his superior. The meeting follows revelations that Olsbu personally profited from a road project he was overseeing. The project connects the new Morrow battery factory in Arendal to the national E18 highway, a critical piece of industrial infrastructure for Norway's green transition.
Olsbu owned a private forest plot in the area affected by the new industrial road. While actively working to advance the road's construction, he sold part of this plot to a private company for 11.8 million kroner. This price was substantially higher than an earlier offer from the Arendal municipality. The new road directly increased the land's value. Olsbu requested a formal conflict of interest assessment in late September 2021 and was officially deemed ineligible to work on the project in November that year. Despite this, he continued to participate in key processes.
He attended a hearing in the Norwegian Parliament, the Storting, and sent emails concerning the road's financing after considering himself ineligible. He also used his official county email account and signature to negotiate the private land sale. Furthermore, he personally handled and rejected press freedom of information requests for these emails. County Director Tine Sundtoft has ordered an external, independent legal review of the entire matter. She stated clearly that Olsbu's actions were unprofessional and do not meet the standards expected in Agder County Municipality.
Sundtoft emphasized the core issue is public trust in the county's politics and administration. Norway's strict rules on impartiality exist for a clear reason, she noted. When an official is deemed ineligible, they must be completely removed from all related work. Olsbu has acknowledged his mistakes. He said he should have withdrawn from the project earlier and that using his work email for private business was wrong. He expressed a desire for the independent review to clarify events. The case highlights the intense pressure and high stakes surrounding Norway's battery industry expansion along the southern coast.
Projects like the Morrow factory in Arendal are central to national economic strategy, creating potential for conflicts between public duty and private gain. The external investigation by the law firm Tofte Hald will scrutinize the timeline and decision-making. Key questions remain about oversight within the county administration and the clarity of internal procedures. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the ethical vigilance required when managing large-scale public investments, especially in booming sectors like green technology. The outcome of the inquiry could influence future infrastructure project governance across Norwegian counties.