Sveriges mest relevanta föredetting - Preemraff Lysekil, oljan och framtiden

Sammanfattning: This essay discusses and analyses the events that took place around the planned extension of Preemraff in Lysekil, the so-called ROCC-project. It does so using a critical political economy perspective focused on the concept of incumbency, the future of fossil fuels and the relationship between Preem AB and the Swedish state and government. This essay finds that there has been a change in the political economy between 2016, when Preem AB submitted their application to the Swedish courts, and 2020, when the application was withdrawn. This change is characterised by an increased understanding of climate change as a matter of urgency and developments in the implementation of new climate change policies on both national and transnational levels. This essay also finds that an unintended consequence of the EU Emissions Trading System was the creation of a situation in which the Swedish government found themselves in a position of either approving the project or cancelling it altogether. Furthermore this essay finds that Preem AB’s strategy for transitioning to renewable resources has accelerated considerably over the period of time analysed.