On February 21, negotiations between the Laevas and Gabna Sami villages and the mining company Copperstone Resources over the Viscaria mine in Kiruna were concluded.
The Sami villagers do not want the mine, which was shut down in 1996 due to profitability problems, to be reopened as they believe that its impact on reindeer husbandry will be too great.
Viscariagruvan
On Monday, the verdict came from the Land and Environmental Court in Umeå, where they now give Copperstone an environmental permit to reopen the copper mine, which will take place in 2026.
Changes to the last
The permit covers the mining of a maximum of 3.6 million tons of ore per year and is combined with conditions regarding, among other things, emissions to water and air, species protection, Natura 2000 and protective measures for reindeer husbandry.
The verdict was supposed to come as early as April 22, but was postponed until today when the county administrative board in Norrbotten, which already said yes to the mine in February, wanted to make further additions.
“Incredibly pleasing news”
At the mining company Copperstone Resources, miners were happy on Monday.
– It is an incredibly gratifying announcement today, says deputy CEO Anna Tyni to SVT Nyheter Norrbotten.
Now the work begins to empty the mine of water. It is about six million cubic meters, which can take up to a year and a half.
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“Incredibly gratifying” – hear Anna Tyni and Jörgen Olsson from Copperstone about the go-ahead from the court. Photo: Fredric Alm and SVT
The Sami villages disappointed
Niila Inga, chairman of Laeva’s Sami village, is disappointed by the verdict.
– We hoped that the business would not get permission. But it was an expected verdict considering how the outside world looks, but it is clear that they hoped for the last.
The adjustments made in the judgment where protective measures for reindeer husbandry are to be introduced.
– It’s 322 pages, so we haven’t had time to analyze it, we have to sit down and analyze if it’s enough or if we should take the process further.
Lars-Marcus Kuhmunen, chairman of Gabna Sameby, is also disappointed.
– It is a big disappointment, the company has throughout the process denied the impact on Gabna Samiby. This is the last remaining transport link we have, but they have all been cut off.
