"Sweden - proud mining nation for over a thousand years
Published March 22, 2024
As Sweden and the EU change and develop, the demand for a safe and sustainable supply of minerals and metals increases. The mining industry is crucial for enabling green social construction, strengthening Sweden's competitiveness and defense capabilities. Work is now underway to produce a new mineral strategy, and this week Energy Minister Busch invited the Swedish mining cluster to collect opinions on the strategy, which is expected to be presented later this year.
Europe uses about a quarter of the world's raw materials - but produces only three percent itself, and is largely dependent on a few third countries for critical raw materials. Some of these countries do not share European values or live up to the environmental requirements and employment conditions found within the EU. The geopolitical situation such as Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine clearly shows that it is crucial to ensure a long-term sustainable domestic supply of raw materials. The EU Raw Materials Act responds to this challenge. Among other things, benchmarks were established for increased capacity within the EU regarding extraction, processing, recycling and diversification of imports. To increase production in Sweden, faster and more predictable permit processes are required, among other things - which are also accepted by society.
- Sweden is today Europe's leading mining nation and we shall continue to be so. But when it comes to critical raw materials, which are needed to secure the green construction of society, we are dependent on importing raw materials from countries like China. Instead, Sweden needs to be a leader in securing entire value chains for the EU when it comes to both strategic and critical raw materials – from exploration to production to the final product. Everything starts in the mine and my ambition is to deliver an ambitious mineral strategy later this year, said Energy and Nutrition Minister Ebba Busch.
Voices from the mining cluster on future mineral strategy
During the meeting, the importance of long-termism was highlighted, as there are long investment cycles in the industry and that it is very important to have political anchoring in the Riksdag. Furthermore, clear goals are needed for where we want to go, both nationally and in an EU context, and how we get there.
The European Critical Raw Material Act, which will soon enter into force, was raised during the meeting. Within the Government Office, the regulation is now being prepared, as well as how Sweden will live up to CRMA. Several highlighted that the mineral strategy should be broad and not only address the raw materials that are critical as this may change, and that Sweden's needs do not always correspond to the EU's.
Several actors highlighted the need for financial incentives, financing and risk mitigation. Stability and transparent, predictable game rules are needed. The state needs to speak with a common voice and you need to dare to raise the difficult issues, as well as remove unnecessary obstacles in the legislation and include the entire value chain perspective.
World-leading innovation in the Swedish mines
Further during the meeting, there was talk about the importance of research and innovation in the field, especially basic, needs-motivated research that needs to be strengthened. The mining equipment companies emphasized the importance of their innovative development work taking place down in the Swedish mines, together with the mining industry.
Education and skills provision were also highlighted, as well as the need to raise the general level of knowledge about geology in order to increase acceptance in society. There is also a need to attract young people to the geological courses, for the companies' competence supply and to secure future research.
The next step in the work with the mineral strategy
The work now continues at the Ministry of Climate and Business to develop a new mineral strategy for Sweden, and highlights the issues that are important to ensure a robust and resilient mining industry."
(20min delay)