The Bergsstaten authority decided in 2019 to reject the company Tertiary Gold Ltd’s application to start mining the mineral fluorite from Kyrkberget in Storuman municipality. The Norwegian Mountain State, in consultation with the County Administrative Board, assessed that a mine in the area would have a negative impact on reindeer husbandry.
But a year ago, the government revoked the decision and the case was tried again.
Stand by the decision
The County Administrative Board stands by the same assessment that the reindeer industry is considered more important than the mining industry. The decision means that the State of Norway says no to mining in the area, which Swedish Radio first told.
– The national interest in reindeer herding takes precedence over the mining industry in this case, says Helena Kjellson, mine master.
The County Administrative Board: “Flytled can be moved”
At the same time, the County Administrative Board believes that the reindeer migration path that goes through the planned opencast mine can be moved, but that the company’s proposals for solutions for the Sami village are not sufficient for reindeer husbandry to be carried out together with mining in the planned area.
Right now, the reindeer herders are working hard with the reindeer slaughter. Jenny Wik Karlsson, federal lawyer at the Confederation of Swedish Sami, has not had time to speak with the concerned Sami village. But she takes a positive view of today’s announcement.
– The Sami village became worried when the government decided to send it back for new processing. Waiting for news is a constant stress, says Jenny Wik Karlsson.
Can be appealed again
The Bergstate’s decision can be appealed to the government again.
– The company has said that they believe that the national interest in the mining industry is more important. Judging from that, the company probably believes that the government has that attitude as well, says Helena Kjellson.
The minister of economic affairs, Ebba Busch (KD), is clear that she wants to pave the way for more mines. She comments on the news in Sweden’s Radio:
– Sweden is desperate for more mines to cope with the green transition itself and for the EU as a whole to secure its independence from countries that do not have sustainable mining production. Having said that, the Mountain State is responsible for the decision and we have to deal with this.
This is fluorite
Fluorite, also called fluorspar, is used in the production of hydrofluoric acid. It is a very strong corrosive and toxic acid that can dissolve glass. The acid is used, among other things, in the purification of aluminum and uranium and the etching of glass and silicon, but also in the production of Teflon and freons. Fluorspar also has large areas of use in steel and aluminum production.
The largest producers of fluorspar are China and Mexico, followed by Mongolia, Russia and South Africa. In 2010, the EU accounted for three percent of world production. The demand for fluorspar, mainly in the form of hydrofluoric acid, looks set to increase over the next ten years.
No fluorspar is currently mined in Sweden, but known deposits can be found, for example, northwest of Storuman in Västerbotten County.
Source: SGU, Geological Survey of Sweden.