UNESCO's handling remarkable

UNESCO has answered the government’s question about if and how the Laponia World Heritage Site could be affected by a mine in Kallak, 34 km’s away. The handling of the publication of the answer is remarkable.

In unclear ways, UNESCO’s statement seems to have leaked several days before it was officially published and circulated on social media before the company was allowed to take part in it, despite the fact that the content could be market sensitive for Beowulf Mining.

– Such handling is remarkable and disrespectful, when it comes to information that could affect the share price of a listed company that has a requirement to inform the public about it as soon as possible, says Kerstin Brinnen, Legal Counsel at Svemin.

A mine in Kallak would provide about 500 new jobs in Jokkmokk – one of the municipalities in the country that has the most difficulty in getting their finances together – and is estimated to have a lifespan of at least 25 years. The matter has been on the government’s table for 6 years. Minister for Business, Industry and Innovation, Ibrahim Baylan has previously stated that a decision on a mining concession for Kallak will be decided when UNESCO has commented on the matter.

– We therefore assume that the government has now continued the process with a focus on making decisions without further delay, says Kerstin Brinnen.

FURTHER READING

> In-depth reading about Kallak and the world heritage Laponia here (Swe.)

Photo: HIFAB, Annie Spratt/Unsplash