Avannaata Kommunia and Greenland Airports disagree about water bills

January 2 occurred a fire in a craftsman's camp near the airport construction in Ilulissat. No one was hurt, and yet they have the incident had a political aftermath of potentially great importance.

The fire reveals a fundamental problem ahead of Ilulissat's future Atlantic airport, believes the mayor of Avannaata Communion:

January 2 occurred a fire in a craftsman's camp near the airport construction in Ilulissat. No one was hurt, and yet they have the incident had a political aftermath of potentially great importance.

The fire reveals a fundamental problem ahead of Ilulissat's future Atlantic airport, believes the mayor of Avannaata Communion:

- It is completely unacceptable and irresponsible to open a new airport if you cannot ensure an efficient and continuous extinguishing work in case of fire, warns Lars Erik Gabrielsen (S).

The problem is, according to the municipality, that the water supply in the area is insufficient. The water in the current reservoir is quickly exhausted, so the fire brigade has to rush into the city for more.

It won't work, concludes Lars Erik Gabrielsen considering what may happen in the future Atlantic airport with larger aircraft, more people and more fuel present.

- A modern airport facility cannot be based on temporary solutions where firefighting is dependent on water transport from the city, says the mayor, who believes that there has been a failure.

The Greenland Police have informed Sermitsiaq that a lack of water made it impossible to extinguish the fire on the spot, and instead, a controlled burn took place.

The case raises the question of whose responsibility it is is actually to ensure that there are sufficient amounts of water for firefighting in the area. Is it the municipality or Greenland Airports?

Greenland Airports: The municipality is responsible

At Greenland Airports, they wonder the mayor's announcement on the basis of the fire in the craftsman's camp.

- It is important to establish that emergency response responsibility outside the airport area – including water supply and infrastructure – is a municipal responsibility, Greenland emphasizes Airports in its written response with several references to the Greenlandic one Emergency Act.

– Greenland Airports are responsible for the safety and preparedness of flights on their own airport area, and we take this responsibility very seriously. In our area have the necessary procedures and resources for firefighting been established in in connection with aircraft accidents at the airport, in accordance with applicable regulations and international standards.

Greenland Airports also states that the company's employees participated in the fire-fighting work in the craftsman's camp and provided quick and efficient assistance.

- It is therefore misleading to produce the incident as a failure on Greenland Airports' part. We are responsible for emergency response at the airport, and here we follow the international standards for safety and preparedness. Any challenges with water supply outside the airport's area falls under the municipality's area of responsibility, writes Greenland Airports.

The municipality: Airport has legal significance

Sermitsiaq has contacted Avannaata Kommunia to hear more and got a response from municipal manager Nick Nielsen. He expresses the same attitude as his mayor.

- We have invested massively to accommodate requirements for the new airport, but we don't think the water reservoir is justifiably, as it is now, says the municipal manager.

But it's probably true enough, like Greenland Airports emphasizes that preparedness and firefighting is a municipal task?

- Yes, but we believe that the establishment of sustainable water supply for the purpose of the airport is Greenland Airports' responsibility. This appears from the framework law for the new airports, says Nick Nielsen.

The law in question states that the company behind the airport is not only responsible for designing, building and operating airports, but also has responsibility for "related business, facilities and buildings".

That is the view in Avannaata Kommunia, that new and better water facilities for a new and larger airport are included this category of related matters that Greenland Airports can hold responsible for.

Here, Sermitsiaq would like to bring a remark from Naalakkersuisut. Among other things, it would be interesting to hear an interpretation of the legal responsibility for the water conditions in Ilulissat.

So far it has not been possible to get it a comment despite several inquiries to the relevant parties departments. But we expect to follow up on the matter.