Controversial Swedish iron mine gets go-ahead after 9 years

The Swedish government has given its approval to allow a UK company to dig a controversial iron mine in the country's far north, sparking criticism from climate activists and the indigenous Sami people.

The remote site at Kallak, near the town Jokkmokk in Swedish Sápmi, better known as Lappland, contains the country's largest reserves of untapped quartz-banded iron ore as well as rare earth minerals. 

London-based Beowulf Mining has been pushing for approval for the mine - which has an estimated 389 million tonnes of iron mineralisation - for nine years but has faced heavy opposition from the indigenous Sami and environmentalists. 

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The Jokkmokk iron mine has become something of a symbol in Sweden for the tensions between business, government and the Sami, whose culture has a protected status.

Economics Minister Karl-Petter Thorwaldsson said it was a "historic decision". He pointed out that the government decision does not give Beowulf permission to begin operations immediately and that it contained "far-reaching and unique conditions", but added: "I think there will be a pit here." 

Beowulf still has to receive approval from Sweden's environmental court, a decision on which could still be years away.

While the company said the goal is to build the most sustainable mine possible, and that much of the estimated 389 million tonnes of iron will "contribute to decarbonisation efforts in steel", the project has drawn the ire of climate activists, including Greta Thunberg, who denounced the decision in Stockholm as "racist", "colonial" and "nature-hostile".

The government said that the mine would create local employment and aid in regional development. Thorwaldsson added that the Sami concerns over the impact on reindeer herding - which requires vast amounts of land - would be minimised thanks to conditions limiting initial construction to certain times of the year.

Some of the other "many and comprehensive" conditions include a requirement that the mine take up as little space as possible, compensation for affected reindeer herders, annual impact reviews and a commitment to restoring the area to allow for herding once the mine was depleted.

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In a tweet, Beowulf CEO Kurt Budge said the concession was a "long-awaited milestone" and that the company was looking to build "mutually respectful relations and productive partnerships with Jokkmokks Kommum, local entrepreneurs, landowners and reindeer herders.

"I believe there is space for us all to be part of Jokkmokk's future, one that is sustainable, diversified and thriving," he added.

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