As reported by Sweden Herald
The Parliament of Sweden (Riksdag) has decided to allow uranium mining on the country’s territory again, despite concerns from several municipalities.
According to reports, the government coalition together with the parliamentary group “Sweden Democrats” voted to repeal the ban, while the opposition opposed. The decision was made with a minimal margin – just one vote.
Supporters of the move say that for Sweden’s energy stability, the country should be open to mining uranium.
The Green Party representative Amanda Lind voiced sharp criticism of the decision.
“This is a huge betrayal of all those living near Sweden’s uranium deposits. Now people will have to live with the fear that their area will be destroyed.”
Key consequences and public reaction
The new course means that mines with small uranium reserves will not be subjected to permit requirements or municipal veto. This could simplify procedural barriers to mining and regard uranium as a potentially secondary raw material. The changes take effect on January 1.
In the future the government plans to push further: it is expected that municipalities’ powers to veto mining will disappear entirely, and the mining process will be called not a nuclear “instrument” but a nuclear “activity,” which will help reduce disruptions in the industry.
The proposal is under broad discussion, but the changes could take effect on July 1 next year.
In municipalities with large uranium reserves, including Falköping, Östersund and Vilhelmina, concerns have been raised about potential negative consequences for the environment, agricultural landscapes, livestock farming and water supply.
Sweden currently operates six nuclear reactors, and the government plans to build several new reactors in the coming decade to meet rising demand for electricity.
The uranium mining ban in Sweden was introduced in 2018 by the then Social Democratic government. Now the proposal to lift the ban is being considered to reduce import costs.
The state-owned company Vattenfall AB previously bought Russian uranium, but these deliveries were halted in 2022 after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Sweden currently has six nuclear reactors at work, and Vattenfall plans to expand capacity in the coming decade to meet rising demand for electricity.
The contemporary discussion around uranium mining continues to shape the country’s energy landscape and influence decisions about the future of the nuclear industry.
