STOCKHOLM (Sweden): The Sami community in Europe has opposed a proposed mine planned to be opened in Per Geijer in far northern Sweden by LKAB (Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara AB), a Swedish state-owned mining company.
Representatives of the indigenous reindeer-herders Sami community said the proposed mine would prevent herders from moving their reindeer from winter to summer pastures, among other things, and added they would fight the plan in court. They said they were not against the mine if they did not threaten their culture.
“This could be the last nail in the coffin that means the end of the whole community,” said Lars-Marcus Kuhmunen, chairman of the Gabna Sami.
Tensions over the conflict were renewed the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) said in its latest report that the proposed iron ore and rare earths project at Per Geijer could violate the rights of the indigenous Sami reindeer-herders if it is opened. “LKAB’s project carries a significant risk of violating the indigenous rights of the Sami community members,” the report said.
Experts said the plans for Per Geijer could also breach Sweden’s duties under the United Nations’ International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Competing legislation exists between Europe’s economic security goals and commitments to human rights.
Per Geijer has an estimated 1.2 billion tons of total mineral resources, including 2.2 million tons of rare earth oxides. Considered one of the biggest rare earth deposits in Europe, it is located near LKAB’s existing Kiruna mine. Kiruna itself is the world’s biggest underground iron ore mine. The European Union wants to reduce its reliance on China for rare earths necessary to make the transition to cleaner energy, as well as production of defense and electric vehicles. Per Geijer is considered crucial in that strategy. It is a designated a strategic project of the EU. It means that the process of granting permissions is hastened. The government in Sweden wants to become the leader in Europe of the new “green” industrial age, and is, therefore, trying to cut down on the red tape when allowing new mines to open.
On the other hand, LKAB said it had not reviewed the report. In a statement, the company said: “We understand our plans for the new deposit would have an impact and we want to engage in dialogue with the Sami village to develop appropriate and far-reaching measures for compensation and to identify various solutions going forward. Per Geijer is crucial for the long-term viability of the Kiruna mine, it said.
The company applied for mining permission last year. However, even if the permission is granted, the company would still need environmental clearance before operations can begin. The mining permission as well as the environmental clearance can both be challenged in court.
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