Bitcoin mining company Sazmining is establishing a 350-square-meter mining facility in a small Norwegian fishing village, aiming to be the Arctic’s northernmost mining operation. Launching on December 1, this project replaces an old oil boiler with a Bitcoin mining data center, using the rigs’ heat output to warm a large building and support the local fish-drying industry.
Sazmining CEO Kent Halliburton emphasized the critical need for heat in this region in an interview with CoinDesk, where temperatures drop to -20°C. This venture highlights bitcoin mining’s potential for Arctic regions, demonstrating it as a tested and viable technology that offers mutual economic benefits. As Halliburton explains, “Heat is a really critical resource in this region of the world. It’s minus 20 degrees Celsius for large portions of the year. … A portion of the heat is actually going to be shunted off to dry fish, which is part of the economy there.”
Sazmining’s design incorporates coolant channels within the rigs, balancing the building’s heat through a dry cooler to avoid overheating. Additionally, a transparent plexiglass wall allows visitors to view the mining operations without disturbing the quiet ambiance, facilitated by a unique liquid cooling system. The initiative follows similar efforts worldwide, such as in New York, where mining heat warms a spa.
With other sites in the U.S. and Paraguay, Sazmining’s model allows retail investors to participate in carbon-neutral mining for a 15% share of mined bitcoins. Norway’s abundant hydropower further strengthens the project’s sustainability, even as local policymakers seek regulatory frameworks for data centers to address environmental concerns.
Despite some national resistance, Halliburton believes in educating the public and authorities on mining’s benefits. He argues that, given the critical role of this facility in providing essential heating, restrictive legislation would be hard to justify in such a challenging climate.
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