Sweden Plans to Remove Municipal Veto on Uranium Mining

The Government wants to allow uranium mining in Sweden, which has been met with resistance from several municipalities. Now the Government wants to remove the veto right for the municipalities, something that can make mining projects possible – despite local resistance, reports Dagens industri.

» Published: July 11 2025 at 07:27

Sweden Plans to Remove Municipal Veto on Uranium Mining
Photo: Björn Larsson Rosvall/TT

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The plan to allow uranium mining has been criticized by several municipalities. The criticism has been about the fact that the municipal veto is being eroded and the mines pose significant risks to people and the environment.

Larger facilities for uranium mining are currently defined as nuclear facilities in the legislation. This is covered by a special examination under the Environmental Code, which requires that the municipal council says yes.

In a memorandum that the government published on Wednesday, it is proposed that uranium mines should no longer be considered nuclear facilities. This means that the local veto right would disappear.

According to the government, the municipalities should instead have influence through other legislation, such as the Planning and Building Act, writes Dagens industri.

The government motivates the proposal by saying that the extraction and enrichment of nuclear substances differ from nuclear reactors, and therefore the regulations should be different.

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By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers
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