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LNSS taking over transport of coal from Mine 7 in Sept.
LNS Spitsbergen will take over the transport of coal from Mine 7 to Longyearbyen’s power plant and the coal pier at Hotellneset as of Sept. 1 under contract signed Tuesday with Store Norske. The mining company, which is now transporting the coal, will transfer all affected employees to operations inside the mine except for one worker who is retiring, said Administrative Director Wenche Ravlo. “When loading we use people from the mine,” said Ronny-André Olsen, the mine’s manager. “Then we have to stop production for two days and that represents 1,000 tons.” The financial terms of the contract were not disclosed. The agreement was researched shortly after LNSS’ parent company, Leonhard Nilsen & Sons, reported record earnings of 2.2 billion kroner in 2014, although its net profit of 7.4 million kroner was a decline from 62.4 million in 2013.
Svalbard Church may be first to accept offerings via mobile
Svalbard Church may be the first in Norway to accept offerings via mobile phone after implementing a new app in use by 70 percent of businesses in Longyearbyen. “We want to be future-oriented and give people the opportunity,” said Deacon Torunn Sørensen, explaining why the church is using the app by Valyou, a company owned by DNB, SpareBank1 and Telenor. Few customers are using the app – which makes payments by holding a mobile device over the payment terminal – at the church and local businesses so far. But Viktoria Erngard, Valyou’s general manager, said similar systems in countries such as England, France and Spain are fast gaining acceptance.
Polish man dies of unknown causes during sailing trip
A Polish man in his 40s died of unknown causes Friday aboard a sailboat at Bohemanneset northwest of Longyearbyen, according to The Governor of Svalbard. Police Chief Lt. Sidsel Svarstad said foul play is not suspected in the death. About 10 people were aboard the vessel and will be interviewed by investigators, and the man’s body will be sent to Tromsø for an autopsy.
