(Adnkronos) – Sweden intends to accelerate the approval of mining permits and become a leader in the mining sector to help the EU reduce dependence on China, where 70% of global rare earths are extracted. This was explained by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy Ebba Busch, illustrating the country’s new national mining strategy. Sweden is the EU’s main producer of iron ore and also has known deposits of graphite, cobalt, rare metals, and phosphate minerals. Despite its mineral wealth, Stockholm currently receives only 1% of global investments in the exploration of basic and critical metals, Busch said, adding that Sweden “must become a leading mining nation.”
The government’s plan involves simplifying authorization procedures “so that decisions can be made more quickly,” explained the Swedish Deputy Prime Minister. A new environmental impact assessment authority will be established “so that companies can benefit from a more consistent process,” and it will be evaluated “how the state can contribute to financing projects that will most help the country achieve self-sufficiency,” she added. Stockholm will also ensure that a larger share of mining taxes and royalties, which currently go to the state coffers, goes to local authorities where extraction takes place.
Several mining projects are currently under evaluation in Sweden, but many are blocked by local opposition and concerns about their environmental impact. The mining group LKAB is examining the potential of a rare earth deposit located in the territory inhabited by the Sami community in the north of the country, but estimates that obtaining a permit could take ten years. In 2024, the EU adopted legislation aimed at curbing its dependence on China for raw materials and introduced 47 “strategic projects,” four of which are located in Sweden.
