Should uranium mining be allowed in Sweden?
Published yesterday at 16.37
Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari tells SVT that she wants to lift the ban on uranium mining in Sweden. Swedish uranium mining is needed for the upcoming expansion of Swedish nuclear power, she believes.
There is already a majority in the Riksdag for it, but the Green Party is against it. Hear Sveriges Radio's environmental reporter Annika Digréus about how likely a change in the law is.
Also hear Camilla Brodin (KD) and Per Bolund (MP) debate whether uranium mining should be allowed in Sweden.
https://sverigesradio.se/artikel/ska-uranbrytning-tillatas-i-sverigeThe Environment Minister that we ban uranium mining but import uranium to the nuclear power plants: "Strange logic"
After the nuclear investments: The Environment Minister wants to see uranium mines in Sweden
PUBLISHED YESTERDAY 4AM
Sweden has the EU's largest reserves of uranium - but mining of the element is prohibited. With new investments in nuclear power, the environment minister now wants to change the law.
- I think we need uranium mines in Sweden, says Romina Pourmokhtari (L) to SVT.
The issue of Swedish uranium mining has long been controversial. In the early 2000s, hundreds of permits were issued to explore for uranium around the country.
But local protests and resistance often arose. In 2018, uranium mining was therefore banned in Sweden, citing the major environmental and health risks associated with uranium mines.
The government wants to lift the ban
Now the government seems to want to cancel the decision. Just before the turn of the year, the government announced that new nuclear power will be built and thus the demand for uranium will increase.
According to Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari (L), Sweden also needs more uranium in order to have more fossil-free electricity production. She also believes that an incentive to allow uranium mining in Sweden, despite the risks, is that Sweden is "the best in the world" in terms of safety and environmental considerations when it comes to the mining industry.
- It is important to mine all the minerals we need for climate change with respect for environmental laws and how those who live nearby are affected. Sweden has good conditions to do so, she says.
Busch (KD): Open to the issue of uranium mining
Previously, only the Sweden Democrats were clearly in favor of uranium mines. Other Tidö parties had a more wait-and-see attitude before the election. They said that today's supply chains for nuclear power work well, and saw no need to change them. This even though there was an opening to change the formal ban, so that companies that mine rare minerals such as vanadium and cobalt, if they simultaneously find smaller amounts of uranium, can also use this for better profitability.
Now government representatives go further, and talk about even opening uranium mines. Energy and Food Minister Ebba Busch also seems positive.
- From the government's side, we are open to the issue of uranium mining, absolutely. We have a lot of uranium we can mine in Sweden. Historically, the profitability has not been there, but now that may have changed, she tells SVT.
(20min delay)