from a major daily newspaper... Doing a good layout in HC is almost impossible, sorry
"Sweden must assume its climate
responsibility by opening moremines""
published 2022-02-11
The Social Democrats should act immediately to loanfinance important infrastructure investments and link these to the miningpolicy.
For social democracy, the core of mining policy is topromote climate change. But the mining of minerals and metals required forelectrification needs to be done properly. Companies operating in Swedenmust meet strict climate requirements and take social responsibility. Andsome of the profits will stay locally.
The author is responsible for opinions in the article.
If Sweden is to do its partto enable climate change, we must open more mines. It is a reality thatnot everyone wants to accept, but that does not make it any lesstrue. Sweden has great geological potential to mine minerals and metalsthat are crucial for coping with electrification's technology shifts, such asneodymium, graphite and cobalt. These are needed to produce such things aswind turbines, electric cars and to develop other necessary energy storage.
Of course, the goal in thefuture must be for the supply to be circular, ie for the metals that havealready been extracted to be reused. But unfortunately, the recyclingopportunities today are not even close to meeting the needs.
Within the Green Partythere is a dogmatic opposition to all kinds of mining plans, which createdinternal rifts during the time in government with the Social Democrats.Government inquiries set up to improve the conditions for mining metals weredelayed or toothless because the parties could not agree on the directives.Sweden has shirked its responsibility.
Ithasn't just been bad for climate change. China's geo-political position hasbeen strengthened because the vast majority of metals are now exported fromthere. Ethically, Sweden's stance is unreasonable because mining takes place incountries with terrible working conditions. We are dependent on metals for ourtransition but are not doing what we can to mine them responsibly. That kind of'not in my back yard' mentality is indefensible.
Sweden should not have anarrangement where certain regions mine metals and produce batteries forelectric cars that only metropolitan areas are then able to use.
Now the new Minister forEconomic Affairs, Karl-Petter Thorwaldsson, has signalled that the SocialDemocrats in government are prepared to take steps forward. This is good, asthis kind of direction has been sought for a long time. But it must be done inthe right way.
Social democracy and thelabour movement must make it crystal clear what is the main purpose of miningpolicy in the coming decades: to promote climate change and through that createjobs with good conditions in Sweden. The companies that operate or want toestablish themselves here must understand that we demand social responsibilityand a long-term approach. The economic added value created by increased miningmust benefit local communities.
Themines must meet strict environmental requirements. Those companies that areprepared to hook arms in this way should in turn know that politicians areready to make the social investments needed to make fossil-free mining methodsprofitable, not least in terms of infrastructure, support for technologydevelopment and the provision of skills.
Decisions on new mines mustbe guided by a reliable system that prioritises the needs of conversion. Withthe government about to announce mining in Kallak, it is clear that such orderis lacking. For example, there are major questions about whether the iron oreto be extracted - which will come in powder form - is useful for the Swedishfacilities that will make the transition to fossil-free steel production.
The Social Democrats shouldinitiate, and go to the polls on, a mining policy shift with the followingbasic components:
Faster and morepredictable permitting processes for the extraction of minerals and metalsidentified as important for the transition.
The unreliablereview procedures currently in place are slowing down investment in metalextraction in Sweden. Environmental requirements should remain stringent, butthe regulatory framework and the resources of the authorities must be adaptedto enable permits to be issued much more quickly. Environmental assessmentshould take place early in the process.
Strictercooperation requirements for mining companies in relation to local communitiesand increased mineral compensation.
A governmentinquiry should be set up to develop clear cooperation plans between miningcompanies and local communities to be fulfilled. An important aim is to ensureimproved welfare and community services in the municipalities concerned, bothduring the period when mining is taking place and when the mine is to bedecommissioned. It must be made concrete what municipalities and miningcompanies can expect from each other.
As part of this review, a model for increasing the state mineral compensation - which is leviedon the estimated value of mining - should be proposed. At present, thecompensation is only half a per mille, which is far too low. As demand fortransition metals is expected to grow enormously in the coming decades, anincrease of up to a few percent could generate stable tax revenues which shouldthen be allocated to the municipalities where mining takes place. This wouldensure that a larger share of the economic benefits from mining activities staylocal.
Strengthened government responsibility for geological mapping.
The SwedishGeological Survey (SGU) is the only government agency that has systematicallymapped the geological conditions in the country. This has been crucial for theSwedish mining industry. In order to better identify which extraction should beprioritised from a conversion perspective, this work needs to be stepped up.Further mapping of deposits can contribute to a holistic view of Sweden'smining instead of focusing on a few infected, high-stakes mining disputes.
Rapid government delivery of the necessaryinfrastructure.
The Social Democrats should act urgently toprovide loan finance for key infrastructure investments and link these tomining policy and the on-going process of re-industrialisation. The Norrbotniarailway must be completed more quickly. The charging infrastructure in thenorth must be expanded. The economic conditions for making the transition toelectric vehicles must be improved in more parts of the country. Sweden shouldnot have an arrangement whereby certain regions mine metals and producebatteries for electric cars that only metropolitan areas are then able to use.
Karl-Petter Thorwaldsson now has an excellentopportunity to broaden the climate issue. A well thought-out mining policywould not only contribute to the energy transition, it could also reduceregional disparities, increase employment and help to give Sweden a leadingeconomic position through the electrification decades.
Against such a political offensive, the Rightwill have no other answer than lower taxes and unbridled market confidence.Take this chance, Karl-Petter."
I think that is realistically feasible with us. What do you think?