Another third of Kiruna will be affected when LKAB's iron ore mine expands. 850 small houses and 20 larger properties – including schools, hotels and apartment buildings – will be affected.
The bitter message was delivered by LKAB's CEO and President Jan Moström at a press conference on Thursday.
So far, 6,000 people have already been affected by the mining operations and the urban transformation that has been going on in Kiruna since 2004. Now, an additional equal number of people will have to move.
The move is expected to be fully completed by 2035.
We do not have as long a planning time as we had before. But there is no one who needs to panic move now, says Stefan Hämäläinen, Director of Community Development at LKAB.
He also says that more state land will be needed to build new housing and emphasizes how important it is to have the people of Kiruna on board.
Kiruna has given a lot to LKAB. Taking responsibility for our impact through a successful community transformation is crucial for our common future.
