More land in Kiruna needs to be converted into a mining industry area and an additional 6,000 people will have to move. This was the message from LKAB when the mining giant presented the new deformation forecast on Thursday. Thus, an additional third of the city will be affected as the iron ore mine expands.
Although it has been a night since we received the message, I still feel taken, says Taaveniku at a press conference at the town hall.
This concerns 850 small houses and 20 larger properties - including schools, hotels, and apartment buildings.
I also understand the sorrow of lost memories that many Kiruna residents already feel, now we have to handle a city transformation as well.
Scenarios
The municipality has had three scenarios to work with ahead of LKAB's forecast. The message delivered by CEO and President Jan Moström at a press conference on Thursday, is close to the "worst case scenario", according to Mats Taaveniku.
That two-thirds of the inhabitants of a city with a population of 18,000 are forced to move is an enormous challenge, says Taaveniku. In addition, outdoor and sports life will be affected when ice rinks, riding facilities, and sports halls are demolished.
Again, we have to make great sacrifices. We are willing to do so, but not at any price.
He urges the government to contact the municipality as soon as possible, as they will not be able to manage without help from the state.
Demand that the state takes responsibility
The biggest challenge is the land issue: Kiruna is enormous, but the municipality owns only 1.45 per thousand, according to Taaveniku, the rest is above the cultivation limit where a number of national interests need to be weighed against each other.
Now we have land that is just enough to complete the first city transformation. In the next step, it's equally large areas we're talking about again. We have difficulty prioritizing among these national interests ourselves, it's a responsibility that the state needs to take on.
LKAB's shock message comes just a week after the mining giant's major event for the relocation of Kiruna Church, which received extensive international attention. In response to TT's question, Mats Taaveniku briefly says that he has no "official views" on the company's timing.
