CO2-free aluminium unveiled

The Vestfold / Telemark news of the last 48 hours puts industry and health in the spotlight. In Porsgrunn, the Hydro group presented on Monday a technology that can produce aluminium without CO2 emissions, in the presence of Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (NRK Vestfold / Telemark). In Telemark, seven midwives denounce what they describe as an untenable work organisation, while the Sør-Øst police and Bufetat have signed a prevention agreement targeting minors.

Hydro presents HalZero at Herøya

Hydro has reached a milestone in developing emission-free aluminium production. On Monday, the industrialist presented at its Herøya research centre, in Porsgrunn (Telemark), a technology called HalZero, which could replace the process currently in use and patented in 1886 (NRK Vestfold / Telemark).

"This is historic. The world will need aluminium. If this can be done without emissions in the future, it is a major industrial breakthrough," said Jonas Gahr Støre during his visit to the centre. Hydro engineers have been working on HalZero since 2016. The principle: carbon circulates in a closed loop and remains contained in the process, so that only oxygen is released at the end, not CO2.

The group points out that much research is still needed before industrial application. The presentation was nevertheless described as an important milestone by the head of government, who came to see the progress of the project in Telemark county.

Health: seven midwives for a vast Telemark area

Seven midwives provide cover for a large geographical area of Telemark. The hospital considers the organisation defensible, but elected officials are raising the alarm on behalf of pregnant women and mothers in labour (NRK Vestfold / Telemark).

"I am afraid for my job," said one of the midwives quoted by public radio, who describes pressure on the teams and on continuity of care. The case therefore pits the hospital against local political leaders, with no reorganisation decision announced at this stage.

Prevention: an agreement between police and Bufetat

The police and the Barne-, ungdoms- og familieetaten (Bufetat) of the southern region want to better prevent vulnerable minors from entering crime. Police chief Kathrine Stein, of the Sør-Øst police district, and regional director Øystein Stokvold signed a cooperation agreement on Monday (NRK Vestfold / Telemark).

"There is a cynicism out there, where people really try to influence children and young people, and they are vulnerable. This also applies to criminal networks, which we have seen very active lately," said Kathrine Stein. The police observe that minors are exposed to violent and extreme online communities, or to other forms of crime.

Sport: Norwegian record for Anders Johnsen, from Sandefjord

Two Norwegian records were broken at the Backyard Ultra in Muruvik. Anders Johnsen, from Sandefjord, completed 73 laps, or 489.5 kilometres, setting the new men's national record (NRK Vestfold / Telemark).

The format requires a start every hour for a 6.706-kilometre loop; the remaining time before the next hour serves as recovery. Nora Kojen Stubbe, from Trondheim, completed 70 laps and set the women's record, finishing third. Jon Asphjell, also from Trondheim, took second place with 72 laps.

Media: Christian Sønstebø drops his case against TV 2

Christian Sønstebø, from Skien, is withdrawing his request to have the documentary TV 2 is making about him, "Kollaps – profeten i Bærum", stopped. He nonetheless maintains his criticisms: he considers that the series is a caricature giving a very misleading image of him (NRK Vestfold / Telemark).

The documentary follows Sønstebø and those around him for two years at the Nordhaug farm, where the group prepares for what it calls "the collapse of society". He had taken part voluntarily. TV 2 fully defends the content of the series, already seen by more than 500,000 Norwegians.

Economy and local life in Vestfold and Telemark

Work on a multi-billion-kroner project is set to start soon in Telemark (Telemarksavisa, 21 October). In Barkåker, in Vestfold, an open house drew a large flow of visitors (Tønsbergs Blad, 21 October). The same day, the daily reports that twelve food establishments were visited by Mattilsynet, the food authority, and that four of them received remarks.

Also according to Tønsbergs Blad, an environment veteran considers that Esso must clean up sea pollution and states: "This is what we can demand" (21 October).

📌 Local briefs

Sandefjord: a man in his fifties was arrested and is suspected of violence after incidents in the town centre overnight from Monday to Tuesday; he allegedly pushed a woman then attacked another person who was following him, before a passer-by intervened (NRK Vestfold / Telemark).

Vestfold: three people broke into a home; the occupant said: "I was afraid for my life" (Tønsbergs Blad, 21 October).

Telemark: a teenager was arrested overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday for driving under the influence and drug possession (Telemarksavisa, 21 October).

Telemark: Olav Løkke has died, Telemarksavisa reported on 20 October, quoting the comment "it is good to think that his last evening was so beautiful".

Sources: NRK Vestfold / Telemark, Tønsbergs Blad, Telemarksavisa, The Local Norway — Period: 20 October 2026 and 21 October 2026