Sweden eases mining permits to cut China minerals reliance
Sweden has declared the mining of critical minerals and rare earths a national security interest. This will ease and expedite the permit process. The government
Sweden has declared the mining of critical minerals and rare earths a national security interest. This will ease and expedite the permit process. The government said the step was needed to counter dependence on China. Sweden on Thursday announced plans to try to boost its mining sector, particularly when it comes to rare earths, and counter European dependence on China. Resource-rich Sweden is already home to Europe's largest iron ore mine, and has since found considerable rare earth deposits at the same Arctic Circle site in Kiruna. Rare earth minerals are essential for renewable energy generation, defense and electric vehicle production, modern computer manufacturing and other core industries. China accounts for roughly 70% of global mining and refining. What did the Swedish government say about the plan? The government in Stockholm on Thursday declared the mining of critical metals and rare earth minerals to be a national security interest. This should ease and accelerate the permit process for new extraction projects and help attract investments, according to Energy Minister Ebba Busch, who is also deputy prime minister. "Sweden must become a leading mining nation," she said as she outlined the new strategy, saying the government intended to "streamline authorization procedures so decisions can be taken more quickly." Ebba Busch said that despite the country's vast mineral wealth and mining operations, only 1% of global mining investment currently found its way to Sweden Image: Viktoria Bank/TT/picture alliance "We believe that this can contribute significantly to both Sweden's the EU's and NATO's defense capabilities," Busch said, calling European industry's dependence on China a "systemic risk." Busch also said the move would make it easier for the state to assign land for mining projects, an area of tension with the Sami reindeer-herding indigenous people, who say the expansion of mining could spell the end for their traditional way of life.
The energy minister also said the government was looking into setting up a state-owned investment company for the mining sector. "Today, to put it plainly, the governemnt lacks concrete tools to wisely contribute to accelerating and attracting investments in crucial strategic projects," she said. A special train carries the Kiruna mine's minerals to a nearby port for further transit Image: Andreas Werth/imageBROKER/picture alliance What are Sweden's existing mining credentials? Sweden has been a European mining giant since the 10th century and the opening of the vast Falun copper mine, which at one point produced as much as two-thirds of the continent's copper. The distinctive deep red color that adorns many houses, churches and other buildings in the country is called Falu Red and hails from the disused mine. It's now a museum and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sweden's modern-day Falun is the vast LKAB iron ore mine in Kiruna in the Arctic Circle. Sweden holds around 60% of Europe's known iron ore deposits and, as of 2021, was responsible for around 90% of the continent's iron ore extraction, around one-third of that from Kiruna alone.
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