Representative of the Icelandic Pirate Party, Smari McCarthy, believes that the authorities of the country need to consider the issue of potential taxation of mining companies that are actively operating in the territory of the North Atlantic island. This is reported by the Associated Press.
"Companies that work in Iceland and generate a certain value usually pay taxes to the budget. The same [mining companies] do not do this, and we must decide whether they should, "the legislator stressed.
The Icelandic city of Keflavik on the empty southern peninsula of Reykjanes in recent months has become an international hub for mining companies attracted by the cold climate and abundant renewable energy from geothermal and hydroelectric power stations.
The energy company Hitaveita Sudurnesja is convinced that in 2018 the Icelandic miners will double their electricity consumption to the level of 100 megawatts. This exceeds the consumption by all households in the country.
Iceland was badly affected by the financial crisis of 2008 and part of the population is skeptical of the idea of transforming the country into a harbor for international mining companies.