The environmental permit was finally secured last autumn when the Supreme Court denied the plaintiffs' appeal. But the Municipality of Kiruna was opposed. The municipality did not want to adopt the detailed plan for the mine construction, which led the mining company Talga to appeal to the government.
Now the government has decided to side with the mining company regarding the detailed plan.
We have weighed the interests heavily in this. And it's nothing that the government takes lightly here, says Ebba Busch.
Not sufficient reasons
The arguments that the Municipality of Kiruna has presented in support have not been sufficient, she continues.
The municipality has, among other things, pointed out that there is a lack of economic incentives, there is no gain for the municipality and its residents, it only creates more costs. But the government is not sending any money to soothe the wounds, even though Ebba Busch vaguely points to the funds set aside in the autumn budget to "support housing construction around growth centers".
We are now instructing the municipality to draw up a detailed plan for mining operations, says Minister Andreas Carlson (KD).
Important for the EU's battery industry
The decision is special. It's the first time the government is using the Planning and Building Act in this way, according to Carlson. The municipality has until May 16 to comply, otherwise the County Administrative Board will be tasked with it, at the municipality's expense.
Last autumn, when Talga finally secured the environmental permit, the company said that it should be possible to start an anode factory in Luleå, where the graphite is to be transported, within 18-24 months once the detailed plan is approved.
This means that it's a green light for the next step in a new mine that can provide the graphite needed for a large part of the European battery industry. Today, both Sweden and the entire EU are heavily dependent on China, says Ebba Busch.
About half of the active material in an electric vehicle battery consists of graphite. The fact that battery manufacturer Northvolt is having problems plays a minor role for Talga's plans. Negotiations are being held with a large number of different potential customers, said the company's spokesperson to TT last autumn.
