CLIMIT Demo: Impartiality and trust

Through its responsibility for CLIMIT-Demo, Gassnova administers public funds on behalf of the Norwegian state. It is essential that funding decisions are based on objective criteria and that applicants’ legal rights are safeguarded.

Impartiality

The administration of the programme is subject to the provisions on impartiality set out in the Norwegian Public Administration Act. A member of Gassnova’s Board of Directors or a case officer is considered to have a conflict of interest when specific or exceptional circumstances exist that may undermine confidence in their impartiality.

Gassnova’s Board of Directors has the authority to make funding decisions under CLIMIT-Demo, with authority delegated in accordance with the organisation’s internal governance framework. The rules on impartiality apply equally to everyone involved in preparing and making decisions.

A conflict of interest may arise:

• Automatically, due to personal interests in a case, family relationships or other circumstances, pursuant to Section 6, first paragraph, of the Norwegian Public Administration Act.
• Following a discretionary assessment of “special circumstances”, pursuant to Section 6, second paragraph, of the Norwegian Public Administration Act.
• As a result of a superior’s conflict of interest, pursuant to Section 6, third paragraph, of the Norwegian Public Administration Act.

Neither members of Gassnova’s Board of Directors, persons exercising delegated authority nor case officers may participate in the handling of cases in which they have a conflict of interest.

Any breach of the rules on impartiality when processing applications for CLIMIT-Demo funding may constitute a procedural error. Funding decisions are made by Gassnova’s Board of Directors or under delegated authority in accordance with the organisation’s internal governance framework.

Procedural errors in such decisions may be appealed to the Norwegian Ministry of Energy. Appeals may be submitted by email to postmottak@gassnova.no or by post to: CLIMIT-Demo c/o Gassnova SF Dokkvegen 11 3920 Porsgrunn Norway