A long-running conflict between the residents of Östra Malmberget and the mining giant LKAB is finally over. Accommodations in the affected area will receive compensation, the company announces.
– It is absolutely fantastic. I just came from Gällivare, should have bought champagne, says Maria Olofsson, a resident of Östra Malmberget to TV4 Nyheterna.
The several-year conflict between residents of Malmsta in Östra Malmberget and the state mining giant LKAB has come to an end. On Friday, it was announced that the mining company is giving in and offering turnkey for the residents of the area heavily affected by the mine.
– It is absolutely fantastic. I just came from Gällivare, should have bought champagne, says Maria Olofsson, resident of Östra Malmberget
The mining company announced on Friday that they are replacing housing in the area with a new, equivalent house or a sum of money equivalent to 125 percent of the market value.
– The reason why we made this decision is that we now see that the impact on this residential area is now so great that we should move towards a settlement. It has then taken us a while to analyze how it should best be done. Now we have come to the conclusion that it is the compensation principles that we previously applied, says Linus Niva, head of LKAB’s social transformation.
The area was greatly affected
Large parts of Östra Malmberget, near the mine in Malmberget, were demolished just before and at the beginning of the pandemic years. After a judgment in the Land and Environment Court considered that parts of the area were negatively affected by the mine. The residents got new houses inside Gällivare.
But just over 100 villas remained, as they were not considered to be affected by the mine. Those who remained have for several years fought against LKAB to get the same offer. They believe that they have also been affected by the mine, in the form of cracks in the house, subsidence, water pipes breaking and more. But LKAB has long said no to seeing the remaining parts as a decommissioning area.
– We have suffered, but despite everything that has happened, we now feel ready to forget and move on, now it will be justice. It’s like a Christmas present for us, says Eva Alriksson, resident of Östra Malmberget.
“A great Christmas club”
After the number of settlements increased both in number and strength during the past six months, LKAB opened the door for the remaining parts of Östra Malmberget to be dismantled, which the County Administrative Board also considered.
After a board meeting, the announcement came that even the remaining parts of Östra Malmberget are to be replaced on a turnkey basis. A new equivalent house. At the beginning of next year, the mining company will start talks with the residents of the area about which offer they want to choose.
– Damn, how nice! Now we just hope it goes quickly, says Björn Backe, Östra Malmberget.
– I called dad directly who lives in the area, a great Christmas present for everyone in Östra Malmberget, says Anna Persson, Gällivare.