Newsletters

Here you can read English summaries of Svemin’s monthly newsletter


10 calls to the government ahead of the climate summit | June 2023
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Svemin newsletter summary | February 2023

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Svemin newsletter summary | January 2023

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Svemin newsletter summary | September 2022

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Svemin newsletter summary | June 2022
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Svemin newsletter summary | May 2022
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Svemin newsletter, March 2022

Message from the CEO

The tense situation in Europe due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is extremely worrying. The thoughts are primarily about the people of Ukraine and the terrible humanitarian effects of a war. At the same time, we are already seeing how Russia’s actions – and the necessary countermeasures now being introduced from the EU and the rest of the world – will have repercussions in many ways and also affect Sweden and the EU as a whole. Russia is a significant exporter of various important raw materials, including metals and minerals.

For example, Russia is a significant producer of platinum group metals and accounts for about 40 percent of world Palladium production. Palladium is used in laptops, mobile phones and other electronics as well as in catalysts for cars with internal combustion engines. Palladium is a sought-after metal and more expensive than gold, which is a contributing cause of theft of catalysts. A halt in deliveries from Russia will affect the automotive industry and value chains for vehicle manufacturers worldwide.

Russia is also a significant producer of nickel. About 20 percent of all nickel used in the EU comes from Russia today. Nickel is an important raw material for batteries, but also as an alloying material in steel. Here, too, the effects of a stop will be felt.

Something that has not been reported in the media yet is how the war will affect Ukraine’s exports of metals. Ukraine is a significant iron and steel producer and titanium and graphite, for example, are also on the export list.

In the EU, there is now a strong focus on securing value chains and access to important raw materials. At the summit held by the EU’s Ministers of Trade and Industry on 24 February, the importance of securing the opportunities to extract more raw materials in the EU was emphasised. And there is potential, not least in the Nordic countries. Among other things, there is one of the more interesting deposits in Europe for the platinum group’s metals, nickel and copper in northern Finland in Sakatti. The deposit is located in a Natura 2000 area and is planned with great consideration for the environment. Since good mineral deposits are rare, it is important that there is also the opportunity to continue to develop mines in areas with high natural values ​​with a focus on minimising the impact.


“We meet all the conditions for being granted a concession”

Sven Otto Littorin, Chairman of the Board of Beowulf Mining, who on 11 February submitted its final statement to the Government regarding a possible mine in Kallak.

Is there anything in particular you want to highlight in your statement?

– It’s really nothing new; we refer the government to the material and the investigation documents that we have already submitted, and which show that the conditions for granting a concession under the Minerals Act are met.

What is the most common misconception about Kallak that you would like to correct?

– There are really two things. That a possible mine would in any way be the end of Sami culture, which of course is not true. The mine would not be located in Laponia either, but sometimes it sounds almost like that in the reporting. Secondly, it is the lifespan, 14 years, that has etched itself. We had permission to test drill 131 boreholes and had to report exactly what Bergsstaten requested based on their own limitation. But the ore body does not run out because we did not have permission to test drill more! Based on geological analysis, the lifespan is at least 30-40 years and probably significantly longer.

>> The statement at beowulfmining.com


Sweden’s unique position as a mining nation must not be neglected

News commentary. Sweden already has one of the world’s most climate-smart mining and mineral industries. In a new study from Material Economics, the climate benefit of the Swedish mining industry has been calculated. Swedish production is 70% less emission-intensive than the corresponding international production, which means that the international emissions are 6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide lower per year than they would otherwise be. This effect can eventually increase to around 40 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, if there are development opportunities, says Maria Sunér, CEO Svemin.

>> Full commentary


€18+ million to sustainable mining innovation

26 new research and innovation projects for increased sustainability and competitiveness in the Swedish mining and metal-producing industry are now starting. The projects are the result of the innovation program Swedish Mining Innovation’s annual call with funding from Vinnova. The total budget of €18+ million is more than a quadrupling compared to last year.

– Research and innovation are a prerequisite for increasing the competitiveness of the Swedish mining industry and implementing the digital and green transition, says Katarina Nilsson, responsible for FOI, Svemin.

>> Full story on the call


Liikavaara is given a green light

The Supreme Court has denied the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation and Gällivare forest Sámi village leave to appeal, which means a green light for Boliden.

– We are happy to be able to proceed with planning for the mining of the Liikavaara deposit after a long and thorough process. It is an important addition to Aitik and will provide a significant amount of copper for use, not least in various types of electrification solutions, says Thomas Sundqvist, General Manager, Boliden Aitik.

– The environmental permit that has now been obtained can only be taken into use on 29 April, but work is already beginning on planning how the project will best be carried out, which includes coordination with the Swedish Transport Administration for the part of the E10 that is to be redone, Thomas concludes.

Boliden hopes to start mining within a two-year period.


“The mining industry will be a very large electricity user in the future”

The most important issue for Svemin is to create more efficient and effective permit processes for the mining industry. But at the same time, the electricity supply issue is becoming increasingly important as the mining industry will become a major electricity user in the future. Maria Sunér, CEO Svemin is interviewed in VA Insights about the energy market.

>> Full interview (Swe.)


Necessary measures in new electrification strategy

In early February, the government presented an electrification strategy with many good and absolutely necessary measures. Svemin agrees with the government’s vision that Sweden should have a robust electricity system with high security of supply, low environmental impact and electricity at competitive prices, and further agrees that electrification is crucial for achieving climate goals. Svemin also views positively that the government emphasizes the importance of electricity and the effect being needed where it is needed, when it is needed, and that the expansion of the electricity system needs to be better anchored at different levels in society for increased acceptance.

>> Full story


Four new education programs focusing on sustainability and in close contact with the industry, at LTU

In the autumn of 2022, Luleå University of Technology will start three new master’s degree programs and one new bachelor’s program with a focus on sustainability. All educational programs work closely with industries and companies already in the first academic year. These are actors in the green transition where the university has an important role for the future supply of skills.

– We are very happy to be able to offer these new educations already this autumn. The students in the educations end up in the center of the green transition and get direct contact with highly topical industries and companies. A great advantage for the university, students and companies, says Birgitta Bergvall-Kåreborn, Rector of Luleå University of Technology.

The new educations are the master’s program in sustainable production, the master’s degree in water systems and the environment, the master’s degree in climate physics, technology and society and finally the bachelor’s program in sustainable mineral extraction.

>> More in LTU’s press room (Swe.)


Svemin newsletter, January 2022

Sweden must show leadership in raw material issues at EU level

In the spring of 2023, Sweden will take over the presidency of the Council of the European Union. It may seem a long way off, but the trio of which Sweden is a part has already started its work.

France took over the presidency on 1 January this year and the Czech Republic will take over in the second half of the year, before handing over the baton to Sweden. The French Presidency has already clarified its priorities – and these include strategic raw material issues and Europe’s supply of metals and minerals. This will also be a key theme at the informal Council meeting that France has now invited to 1 February, with discussions on, among other things, how the opportunities for mining in the EU can be improved. Sweden as the EU’s leading mining nation must now show leadership in these discussions. With the forthcoming presidency, we have a unique opportunity to shape the EU’s agenda. Sweden and the Nordic countries already have a large share of the EU’s mining operations and the potential to contribute more important metals and minerals for the climate transition. It is central that Sweden is now on its toes and working early in shaping the EU’s future policy.

There are also a number of things to tackle in Sweden. The permit processes are an ongoing issue that requires political action to improve. A disappointing recent published study by the Mining Journal shows that Sweden ranks second last of all evaluated countries in terms of permit processes, and ends up low in terms of perceived support from politics.

I still choose to be cautiously positive ahead of 2022. The insight into the need for metals and minerals and the strategic importance of the mining industry is increasing, as is the fact that we have great potential in Sweden. The fact that 2022 is an election year creates both opportunities and obstacles for real change. From Svemin’s side, we hope that our input in our reform package regarding permits will make an impression both before and after the election.

Maria Sunér
CEO Svemin


Now the future of the mines is decided – “Sweden uncertain for investments”

Sweden is the second worst in the world when it comes to environmental permits, according to a new survey by Mining Journal. Project after project comes to a standstill. We must act before it is too late, says Maria Sunér, CEO of Svemin. “Sweden is perceived as almost legally uncertain,” she tells TN.

The Swedish mining industry is facing a crossroads. Either Sweden takes the lead in climate transition work, or mining companies and investments gradually leave Sweden. Maria Sunér, CEO of Svemin, the industry organisation for mines, mineral and metal producers in Sweden, points out the country’s environmental permit processes as the big issue.

– We are second to last of all countries. And when it comes to how reliable the policy is, we are also in a very bad position. From an international perspective, Sweden is perceived as a very uncertain country for mining-related investments. Because the permit processes take so long and the outcome of mining cases is very uncertain, Sweden is perceived as almost legally uncertain, she says.

>> Full story on tn.se (Swe.)


Worrying ruling on Gotland gives increased climate impact

Five years of intensive investigative work was not enough. The Supreme Land and Environmental Court still thought that the basis for the extended mining was too deficient. – We are both surprised and disappointed with this decision, says Svante Fielding, CEO of SMA Mineral.

In 2019, SMA Mineral received permission to increase its mining of limestone, from the current 95,000 tonnes to 900,000 tonnes per year. The verdict was appealed to the Supreme Land and Environmental Court, which now says no to the extension.

The Supreme Land and Environmental Court states that “it is not possible to have an overview of the necessary traffic safety-enhancing measures that can be implemented. The company has also not shown that the inconveniences that heavy traffic will give rise to can be overcome through conditions and protective measures. ”

The court’s main criticism is thus about transports on a total of seven kilometers on public road.

– This is a fundamentally interesting question, what responsibility do we have as an individual company to rebuild public roads, Svante Fielding asks himself and seems to see that similar issues are not assessed equally everywhere in the country. He mentions several examples where equally heavy transports take place on completely corresponding roads, transports that have been given permission.

Svante Fielding underlines that the question of lime and what it is used for in today’s society is far too low.

– I would like to urge everyone to try to live a single day without lime. Lime is needed, for example, in water purification, the manufacture of steel, paper, glass, ceramics, plantations, animal feed and for flue gas purification in industry.

He also mentions that the large Swedish investments Hybrit and H2Green Steel are completely dependent on lime to produce fossil-free steel.

What does the ruling mean for your business?

– At present, we continue to work as before, but we are forced to give up several planned improvements to the business, says Svante Fielding. In the long run, this means that we must continue to import limestone from other countries with guaranteed poorer environmental and climate performance.


Continued green light for Pajala mine

The ruling that came January 13th, shows that Kaunis Iron has been technically right. It is of course a great relief, not only for the company but for the Swedish mining industry in general.

– It is important that permits that have gained legal force continue to apply. The mining industry has extremely long planning horizons and is completely dependent on a reliable permit system, says Maria Sunér, CEO of Svemin.

In the ruling (Swe.), the Land and Environmental Court decided to limit Kaunis Iron’s permit so that the permitted production volume will be 7 million tonnes of ore per year instead of 20 million tonnes. That limitation roughly corresponds to Kaunis Iron’s current production volume. In practice, therefore, the business is not affected.

>> Full story


New employee at Svemin

On January 10, Sandra Lindström started at Svemin. She will shoulder the role of expert in climate and energy as Hanna Stenegren is on parental leave.

Sandra most recently comes from the consulting firm Rud Pedersen, where she worked as a public affairs manager. Prior to that, she also worked as a political adviser, with responsibility for the EU Committee, the Nordic Council and for housing, building and community planning. She also worked for the then Minister of Environment, Lena Ek at the Ministry of the Environment.

But from now on, mines are on the agenda! How does it feel?

– Thanks! It feels great! The issues are really in focus right now so there will be a lot to do, and it is also election year, so it will be extra exciting.

What was it about the mining industry that attracted you?

– The Swedish mining industry and the member companies within Svemin are at the forefront when it comes to finding new technologies and methods to be able to extract and refine minerals and metals in a sustainable way. I think there is too little talk about the role of the Swedish mine in the green transition. Or rather the connection between electrification, the need for minerals and metals and Sweden’s responsibility and great potential in this.

What issues in climate and energy are you most impatient to start working on?

– Right now, the energy issue feels like perhaps the most important issue. A robust electrical system with high reliability and delivery security is needed to meet future needs.

Svemin is very happy to have Sandra as a new colleague and welcomes her warmly into both Svemin and the Swedish mining cluster!


Unit within ABB Sweden is praised for its gender equality work

The industry’s gender equality award 2021 goes to ABB Sweden for the gender equality work within the Motor Starting & Safety unit. They are praised for a consistent gender equality work that has taken place at all levels within the unit. The prize was awarded by Minister for Gender Equality Eva Nordmark during Industry Day in Stockholm, 24 January.

One of the ABB unit’s focus has been to increase the proportion of women in leading positions. At present, they have 41 percent female managers, 50 percent women in the management team and about 35 percent women in total at the unit.

>> More at industrirådet.se (Swe.)


PDAC 2022: New dates for convention in person and online

PDAC 2022 will now be hosted in person in Toronto from June 13-15 and online from June 28-29.

>> More at pdac.ca 


Svemin newsletter, December 2021

 

Message from the CEO

It finally happened. We have legislated away human activities from Sweden’s land area. It may sound a little strange, but in practice it is the effect of a recent ruling from the Land and Environmental Court in Växjö. This time it was not about mining but a solution for the circular economy and its impact on water.

The project is about recycling phosphorus from ashes from incinerated sewage sludge to create circular flows. The establishment was planned to take place in an existing industrial area in Helsingborg, adjacent to the port and with the Baltic Sea as the recipient for discharges of process water. Discharges to water were judged to be small. But the court’s justification for the refusal states that

“As the company’s proposal for treatment and conditions does not involve zero emissions, it is not possible to allow operations due to the current environmental quality standard.” The Court further considers that “it is not possible to provide a possible permit with sufficiently far-reaching and economically acceptable conditions which would entail a zero emission.”

In this context, it should be noted that the project is welcome and is exactly in time with its circular focus, which is confirmed by the fact that it has received multi-million support through the Climate Leap initiative (Klimatklivet) through a decision by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.

If this application of law becomes valid, it means a dead end for many investments throughout Sweden. Not least in the mining industry, but also in general, because many businesses affect water in some way. Expansions to existing industries will not be possible, as well as many cities and residential areas will find it difficult to expand when treatment plants cannot be expanded. This is another clear example of the need to review licensing processes and legislation. How do we create environmental legislation where we also have room for human activity?

Svemin was recently visiting Kaunis Iron in Pajala, (pictured). An exciting activity that creates great value for Pajala municipality. Kaunis Iron is today Norrbotten’s 6th largest company and employs almost 20 percent of the able-bodied population in Pajala. At the same time, Kaunis Iron is in a challenging situation where the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency wants to withdraw a given environmental permit with reference to the fact that the permit itself is unclear. The companies have long announced that they want to apply for a new permit in accordance with the Environmental Code, and such an application has also been submitted and is being processed. This application also includes an expanded business into the future, which would secure jobs into the 2030s. The new application, which with extensive additions amounts to 8,000 pages, should be rejected, according to both the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the Swedish Marine and Water Authority.

Together with the situation for LKAB’s application for a joint permit, both Norrbotten and Västerbotten’s politicians should be concerned. According to a recently launched analysis by Copenhagen Economics, of the planned investments in Norrbotten and Västerbotten in the coming years, the mining cluster’s contribution is 75 percent. In addition, the mining cluster already accounts for 20 percent of regional GDP today.

Svemin will continue to work tirelessly for better and more efficient permit processes and good conditions for the mining cluster in 2022. Until then, I also want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!


The Swedish Mine is back

During the late autumn of 2020, The Swedish Mine (Den Svenska Gruvan) saw the light of day. The common voice of the mining industry with the goal of reaching the public, a public that is too often ambivalent about whether the mining industry really needs to be developed.

In the autumn of 2021, a new campaign period will roll out with advertisements in digital channels – Instagram, Facebook, in newspapers and on various sites. In the photo, we see a happy steering group consisting of Klas Nilsson, Communications director, Boliden, Emma Härdmark, Communications manager, Svemin and Bo Krogvig, Director of strategic projects, LKAB.

Put a like on our Facebook – Den Svenska Gruvan and you will see both ads and updates. And of course check out the website densvenskagruvan.se/en

Behind the initiative are Boliden, LKAB, Zinkgruvan, ABB, Epiroc, Sandvik, Copperstone Resources and Svemin.


Svemins Autumn Summit 2021

The Autumn Summit took place on November 18 at Nalen as a hybrid event. Participants were present and the Autumn Meeting was also broadcast live via Svemin’s Youtube channel.

During the day, the report The economic value of the Swedish mining cluster was launched, which Copenhagen Economics produced on behalf of Svemin. The report Climate ambitions and metal needs, which was produced together with Material Economics and which was launched at the Environmental Conference, was presented again.

Jan Moström, CEO of LKAB and Mikael Staffas, CEO of Boliden presented a new industrial collaboration to investigate the possibility of extracting pyrite concentrate from mining waste at the Aitik mine, which LKAB will then refine into fossil-free sulphuric acid. The sulphuric acid is then used to extract, among other things, rare earth metals and phosphorus from LKAB’s mining waste.

See the Autumn Meeting, session 1 here (Swe.)

See the Autumn Meeting, sessions 2 (in English) & 3 (Swe.) here.

Feel free to take part in Svemin’s other material and do not forget to subscribe!

Swedish Mining Innovation Award 2021

The award, which rewards an innovation of great importance to mining and innovation in Sweden, was awarded by the national strategic innovation program Swedish Mining Innovation during the Autumn Meeting.

The winner Hybrit, which is a collaborative project between LKAB, Vattenfall and SSAB, has during the summer presented the world’s first hydrogen gas-reduced sponge iron. The goal is carbon dioxide-free steel production, from mine to finished steel, and the hydrogen-reduced iron sponge is crucial for creating a completely fossil-free process.

This year’s inspiration award went to Mining with Nature – the mining industry’s roadmap for biodiversity.

More at Swedish Mining Innovation


First step for new research and innovation agenda

In December, Svemin’s R&I committee will meet together with Swedish Mining Innovation and managers within Svemin’s member companies to take the first steps towards the new research and innovation agenda.

In 2019, an update was made to the previous agenda for the Swedish mining and mineral industry and the metal mining industry, and in 2022 it is time for a new version.

>> More here.


Authority backs down – allows pregnant women underground

The Swedish Work Environment Authority is backing away from its proposal, which would have meant a direct ban on pregnant women and breastfeeding women from underground work. “It is very positive that the authority has taken in the industry’s views,” says Åsa Dahlfors, expert and advisor in work environment issues at Svemin and Industriarbetsgivarna.

In September, the news came that the Swedish Work Environment Authority had made a new interpretation of the EU directive that was implemented in Sweden in 1995. Previously, pregnant women, newly delivered and breastfeeding women had been allowed to work with underground mining after a thorough risk assessment had been carried out. The new interpretation would mean a direct ban on underground mining for these groups, something that has been criticised from several places.

– From the industry, we have pointed out the unfortunate in the Swedish Work Environment Authority’s reinterpretation, in addition to the fact that we considered the reinterpretation incorrect, it also went against the industry’s gender equality work. Our member companies work hard to attract women to the mining industry and then came signals from the authorities that it is dangerous for women to work underground, says Åsa Dahlfors, expert and advisor in work environment issues at Svemin and Industriarbetsgivarna.

A welcome reinterpretation

The Swedish Work Environment Authority has now turned the matter around and proposes that the directive should continue to be interpreted in accordance with the industry’s view, which means that a risk assessment should form the basis for whether the pregnant woman can continue her regular work or not.

– It is gratifying that the Swedish Work Environment Authority is turning the issue around so that companies can continue to work both safely and efficiently with a functioning system for risk assessment. A modern Swedish mining industry needs modern regulations. This is a step in the right direction, says Åsa Dahlfors.


Svemin newsletter, October 2021

 

Message from the CEO

What a week. The mining industry and permit issues have to a very high degree been in focus after Tuesday’s announcement that the court rejects LKAB’s permit application. It is astonishing that a formal detail in how the invitation to a consultation was sent out is allowed to overturn one of Sweden’s largest and most comprehensive environmental assessments and industrial investments. This is another clear example of the system failure that can only be remedied with comprehensive reforms, something that is widely discussed in the media during the week.

Last week I was in Jokkmokk and together with Beowulf’s CEO Kurt Budge and the municipal council in Jokkmokk Robert Bernhardsson we visited Kallak. An iron ore mine located in Jokkmokk municipality would mean an enormous opportunity for economic development for the municipality – a municipality as large as Skåne, Halland and Blekinge together but with only 5,000 inhabitants.

The mining industry is among the sectors that create the most jobs in other sectors; a job in the mining industry creates 1.8 indirect jobs at the subcontractor level. Together, they in turn provide jobs in industries that are not directly linked to the mines, such as grocery stores, restaurants, culture and sports, but are needed in living communities. This must not be forgotten in the public debate about whether the mines should be or not.

Kallak is also extremely well placed in relation to the exciting investments that are now being made in fossil-free steel in both Boden and Gällivare, which will be crucial in the fossil-free value chains. But even here we have an example of the dysfunctional permit processes that companies that want to invest and invest in Sweden face. The environmental permit processes are the biggest challenge facing the mining industry. We have recently had several startling examples that are still not clarified regarding, for example, Cementa and Kaunis Iron. Against this background, Svemin will launch a comprehensive reform program for the permit processes throughout the entire mining industry’s value chain – from exploration to an active mine that needs renewed permits. This will take place at our Environmental Conference on October 26 – sign up here!

It is now that politics must act if the whole transition to fossil freedom is not to be jeopardized.


Say hello to Sweden’s first new mine in 10 years

On Wednesday, Botnia Exploration was informed by the Supreme Court that no leave to appeal was granted on the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation’s appeal. Thus, the Land and Environmental Court of Appeal’s ruling from December 2020 gains legal force and Sweden’s first new mine in over ten years can thus start operations.

> We had a short chat with CEO Thomas Ljung.


Climate Ambitions and Metal Needs

On 27 September, Svemin’s report Climate Ambitions and Metal Needs was launched. The report has been produced within the framework of the project Society’s future needs for metals and minerals for a sustainable and digital society in a 2030 and 2050 perspective that is part of, and funded by, Swedish Mining Innovation.

The report will be translated into English and will be available shortly. When the English version is finished, an English launch will also take place. Information about this will come in due course.

> More on the report here.


Svemin’s Environmental Conference 2021 –
A sustainable future requires sustainable permit processes

NOTE – The conference has been moved to October 26, 13.30 – 16.00. If you already registered, you do NOT need to register again.

> More info and registration here.


The Nordic bedrock is among the most mineral-rich in the world

The Geological Survey of Sweden (SGU), together with corresponding authorities in the other Nordic countries, has produced a report that shows great potential for extracting critical metals and minerals (CRM) in the Nordic region, but also the need for new surveys and research. The critical raw materials are in several cases of central importance for the green energy transition.

> Read more and download the report here.


New action plan from ERMA –
Ensuring access to the raw materials for the European Green Deal: A European Call for Action

The European Raw Materials Alliance (ERMA) released its Action Plan to secure access to Rare Earth Elements for European industry on September 30. Entitled Rare Earth Magnets and Motors: A European Call for Action, the report outlines current and projected European demand for Rare Earth Elements and steps which should be taken to secure their supply.

– The European Raw Materials Alliance points to what the industry has been pointing out for a long time – the supply of metals is setting the pace for climate change. This action plan is aimed specifically at rare earth metals, which we know is found in the European bedrock – not least in the Swedish, says Katarina Nilsson, Expert R&D, Svemin.

> Read more and download the report here.


Seminar: Creating value through closure

Risk Informed Closure Design: Key to maintaining license to operate. A collaboration between Luleå University of Technology, Svemin and the Swedish mining industry invites you to a seminar to gain knowledge from and open discussions with local and international experts on the issues and opportunities surrounding mine closure. Seminar themes include culture mining history, the Sami perspective, landform design and case studies. The seminar is the 3rd instalment of the series ‘Creating Value Through Closure’, which follows the success of the 2019 instalment.

The seminar is aimed at, among others, dam owners, authorities, stakeholders and consultants and will be conducted digitally with the opportunity for active participation at a distance. The date and time is October 27 at 13.00 – 17.00.

> More information, programme and registration here.


Svemin newsletter, September 2021


Message from the CEO

Today, the opening of the 2021-22 Riksdag session takes place. Our elected representatives are returning to the benches and the rest of the country will soon begin to return to a more normal life. Sweden is also in an enormously exciting and positive situation with all the major industrial investments planned with a view to a fossil-free society.

Sweden has the opportunity to become the world’s first fossil-free welfare nation. At the same time, there are big question marks about how electricity supply and competence supply should be solved. And not least about how Sweden’s permit processes should be able to handle these investments. Rarely has so much been at stake. It is investments of more than SEK 1,000 billion that will give us, among other things, green steel and green batteries, and change the value chains from the ground up – with fossil independence right from the extraction of raw materials to the end product. But this will only be realised if Sweden has functioning, predictable permit processes. Right now, it is obvious that today’s permit processes are dysfunctional and constitute a real stumbling block – and a very big risk – for all mining and mineral activities, both existing and new.

The government is also in a very special situation with the resigning Prime Minister, resigning Minister for Business, Industry and Innovation and parliamentary elections in less than a year, and several inquiries where the results will not come until 2022. This makes it difficult to make decisions about the changes that the business sector needs. The risk is that we lose valuable time.

In recent months, we have had many meetings with decision-makers and politicians to discuss the need for change at a more detailed level – both about what can be done in the short and long term. We hope that the growing interest now makes an impression in proposals for political reforms both in the general motion period that begins today, and in the meetings and congresses where politics is formed before the election year.

Even before the summer, Svemin began work to set up concrete proposals to reform the current system for permit processes. The highly topical permit crisis has meant that we have accelerated the project and can therefore launch our Reform Package in connection with Svemin’s Environmental Conference on 6 October.

Welcome to participate!


“Metal sets the pace of the climate transition”

Katarina Nilsson, R&D expert, Svemin on the forthcoming launch of Svemin’s report Climate ambitions and metal needs.

In what way are climate ambitions really related to metal needs?

– To put it briefly, the availability of metal sets the pace of the climate transition. That’s how important it is. The technologies that will replace fossil fuels, such as wind power and e-mobility, are extremely metal-intensive. Climate technologies also require metals that have not been used on a large scale to date. But an increased electrification of society in general also requires more of ordinary metals, not least copper. The single most important driving force for increased demand for many metals until 2050 will be the climate transition. Ensuring access to the metals we need for climate technologies is therefore a challenge and if we do not manage this, there is also a risk that we need to lower our climate ambitions. In the EU’s industrial strategy, the European Commission points out that dependence on fossil sources even risks being replaced by dependence on metal and mineral raw materials.

What role does recycling play in meeting the need for metal?

– It is important to get a good picture of what metal needs we can expect in the short and long term and also how much of that need can be met with recycling. If we are to meet the climate challenge, we will need to work broadly on this issue, both in finding and extracting more metals from our bedrock, but also in ensuring that the metals we mine are also recycled.

Why is it important for Svemin to produce a report on this?

– It is important that investors, companies as well as decision-makers have fact-based data on the table in order to be able to make well-balanced decisions. Material Economics analysis and conclusions now give us an overall picture of the state of knowledge as it looks today. It is important to know which metals risk becoming a bottleneck for the climate transition so that efforts are directed in the right direction. This may apply to decisions on initiatives for mapping these metals, targeted research funds and research programs for sustainable extraction and recycling of the metals and guidance to investors regarding, for example, risk capital for exploration. Svemin has long seen a need to get a better overview of society’s need for metals and minerals and also how much of the need we can meet with recycling.

There is already a lot of interest in the launch event. What are you most looking forward to on September 27?

– Of course, I am curious about how the report will be received because it shows what challenge we have before us when it comes to future metal supply. It is a great societal challenge that really shows that we must work together to solve the climate challenge.

> Welcome to the launch of Svemin’s report Climate ambitions and metal needs

Please note – The webinar will be held in Swedish. The report will be translated into English and will be available shortly. When the English version is finished, an English launch will also take place. Information about this will come in due course.

List of speakers:

Mikael Staffas, CEO Boliden
Maria Åstrand, MD Raw Materials, Northvolt
Karl Murray, Associate Partner, Material Economics
Jessica Rosencrantz (M)
Mattias Johansson (S)
Rickard Nordin (C)
Maria Sunér, CEO Svemin
Katarina Nilsson, Expert R&D, Svemin and project manager

What: Report launch
Date: September 27th
Time: 12:00 – 13:00
Where: Live lunch webinar
Language: Swedish
Registration: Here


What’s up, Kristina Branteryd!

Svemin’s new environmental expert who is currently planning this autumn’s first major live broadcast – Svemin’s Environmental Conference.

Why should I not miss Svemin’s Environmental Conference on October 6?

– You do not want to miss it because we will present Svemin’s reform package for efficient permit processes! In addition, you’ll get a current picture of environmental issues at EU level and how they are handled in Sweden. Last but not least, the new Gruv-RIDAS will also be launched, so we will also talk about tailings dam safety. A very exciting afternoon and a great opportunity to get the latest from the industry!

Is there something from the agenda that you yourself want to highlight a little extra?

– The permit issue is red hot. We will describe how we in Sweden could make the permit process work again, through Svemin’s reform proposal. A failed permit process makes climate adaptation impossible, among other things, so this point feels extra important.

Who is the Environmental Conference aimed at?

– Everyone who is interested in Sweden’s future and climate adaptation.

> Svemin’s Environmental Conference 2021 –
A sustainable future requires sustainable permit processes

The highly topical cement crisis has exposed the infected intersection between ideological climate ambition and the real change work carried out by large Swedish industrial companies. Ambitious investment plans in the basic industry can make Sweden a world leader in climate-neutral raw materials – both metals and cement. If we only get permission for our activities. As the system looks today, it is a real stumbling block for development.

Therefore, the permit issue is in focus at this year’s Environmental Conference.

We will talk about solid proposals for solutions to create more efficient and predictable permit processes. We also raise current EU issues and talk about dam safety.

What: Svemin’s Environmental Conference 2021
When: October 6
Time: 13.00 – 15.30
Where: Live webinar
Language: Swedish
Fee: Free of charge
Registration: Here


Svemin newsletter, August 2021


Message from the CEO

The Cementa case has sent shockwaves through Sweden this summer. That a permit process in an environmental court can have such extensive consequences is surprising to many. It was also clear that knowledge of where important raw materials come from is extremely limited in large parts of society. In parallel with the cement crisis, Kaunis Iron has ended up in a precarious situation, to say the least, during the summer, where 8,000 pages of environmental investigation for a total of SEK 50 million are dismissed by the authorities as insufficient.

Both cases clearly illustrate how inefficient and dated the current system of permit processes is. We from the industry association have therefore been conducting intensive work for a long time aimed at the system having to be substantially reformed, with a clear framework and that consideration must be given to the whole.

The one positive thing in the midst of all this is that permit issues are now at the top of the agenda. Certainly, many ask the question and have opinions about whose fault it is. But that question is not relevant. The more interesting question is what should be done so that it does not happen again – how do we ensure that the permit processes can weigh in a holistic view, that they become more efficient and predictable, that the roles and requirements of courts, authorities and applicants are clarified so that all know for sure what is expected.

The Supreme Court’s decision not to grant leave to appeal Cementa’s appeal confirms that we will not see any different implementation and attitude from the authorities soon. The legislation therefore needs to be reviewed, and it is urgent.

There is something wrong with the system when a company that applies for a permit 4.5 years into the process is informed that their application is not considered complete enough for a decision to be made. This with less than 4 months left of the current permit. Svemin is now working on solid proposals for what should be changed in the environmental permit process, to contribute constructively to the improvement work going forward. In the short and long term.


The criteria for the mining industry in the EU taxonomy postponed

The EU’s taxonomy is a tool that classifies which investments are environmentally sustainable and which are not. The purpose is to create common guidelines for the financial sector for which investments should be called “green”.

The work has been going on for several years and contains various parts and legislation. The process is currently underway to set the criteria that need to be met for an activity to be classified as sustainable, including for the mining industry.

In mid-July, it became clear that the working group (sector team) tasked with developing a first proposal on criteria for the mining industry could not agree on a proposal. Therefore, criteria for the mining industry have now been postponed. For how long is currently unclear, but more information is expected in September.

– We are disappointed with the process, says Hanna Stenegren, expert in climate, energy and sustainable financing. The knowledge about the mining industry has been insanely low and the discussions have largely been based on prejudices and emotional arguments instead of building on facts. If you do not even manage to agree on what are the facts for which the criteria should be based, it is not so strange that you do not manage to agree on criteria either.

In the public consultation, which is now open for input on the criteria for other industries, the expert group (platform) requests more data from the mining industry.

– That the expert group requests more data, we see as an opportunity to show how far the Swedish mining industry has come in the work of reducing environmental and climate emissions and increasing biodiversity. We want to show that it is possible to combine high environmental and climate requirements with profitable companies and hope to be able to contribute to raising the European standard, says Hanna Stenegren.

> More on the taxonomy here and here


“Continued intensive work to make politics realize the seriousness and that 8 months is not enough”

Malin Löfsjögård, CEO of Svensk Betong (Swedish Concrete Association) on Cementa’s extended permit announced by the government on 10 August

How calm do you feel with the government’s decision to let Cementa continue to run the production for a limited time?

– Not very calm. The extension of 8 months is not sufficient to wait for either Cementa’s continued court process or for the cement and concrete industry to find solutions that fully replace the cement volumes from Slite. Continued intensive work will be required to make politics realize the seriousness and that 8 months is not enough. Serious risk of large notices of redundancies remain, but the time has been moved forward a few months.

What do you think will be the consequence of the extension?

– It gives a short deadline not to start with issuing notices immediately after the holidays, but gives companies a certain amount of time to get control of the situation and see what they can contribute to mitigating the consequences. But the time is far too short for the situation to be resolved before the summer of next year. We have been clear about this in the consequence analysis submitted to the government.

What will be the most important thing for Svensk Betong forward?

– Get a solution as soon as possible, where politics will need to show action and will, to ensure that Sweden does not suffer from a construction crisis that has effects throughout society. Our member companies review the opportunities they have in mitigating the effects. We also need a message from politics about how they view lime mining in Sweden. In the consequence analysis, we have already been clear that a transition to import will take at least 2-3 years, and with it a number of other things that risk being negatively affected, such as climate impact, costs and security.

– Continue and increase our advocacy and communication work to ensure that it will continue to be possible to mine limestone and manufacture cement in Sweden. Why concrete and cement are needed for societal development and the climate transition and what our own sustainability work looks like. The overall industrial policy and what the policy really wants with Sweden’s climate work, where we now see warning examples as the case with Cementa linked to the permit processes that are going in the completely wrong direction if Sweden is to achieve its climate goals.


Svemin strengthens with new environmental expert

We are very pleased to present Kristina Branteryd as a new environmental expert at Svemin. Kristina comes most recently from SSAB Oxelösund, where she has held various managerial roles for many years. Most recently as head of environment and energy issues. Kristina is a trained mining engineer from Luleå University of Technology and has solid experience from the mining and steel industry.

– It feels incredibly fun to be able to represent the mining industry and work with environmental issues. We are in a time filled with forward-thinking spirit and innovation in the environmental field, so it feels fantastic to be at Svemin and have the opportunity to work with these issues, says Kristina Branteryd.

 

Kristina began her employment on 16 August.


Mining companies with greater transparency and focus on sustainability perform better and provide increased returns

The mining companies that are ranked highly in sustainability also provide the largest return on the stock exchange. This is shown in a review conducted by PwC. On average, the dividend is ten percentage points better than the average. The authors of the report thus conclude that the mining industry in general should be better at sustainability issues in order to have better profitability and improve its business opportunities, says the magazine Aktuell Hållbarhet.

> See the full report here


Authorities want to stop mining – despite application of 8,000 pages

Three authorities want to stop Kaunis Iron’s iron ore mining in Pajala. The environmental consequences are considered to be too diffuse, despite the fact that the company has straightened out question marks in an 8,000-page investigation that has cost more than SEK 50 million. “It is not possible to understand”, says CEO Klas Dagertun to TN (Tidningen Näringslivet).

The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, the Swedish Marine and Water Authority and the County Administrative Board of Norrbotten are calling on the Land and Environmental Court to put an end to Kaunis Iron’s application to continue and expand mining in Pajala. In their responses to the consultation, the bodies claim that the environmental consequences of the mining operations are too difficult to oversee. This is despite the fact that Kaunis Iron has spent approximately SEK 50 million and 8,000 pages in investigations to give all players an overall picture of the mine’s consequences.

– It is not possible to understand. We have investigated all the authorities’ issues and additions as thoroughly as possible and yet they believe that the environmental consequences are too difficult to oversee. The permit application is currently over 8,000 pages long, it has cost more than SEK 34 million in external investigations. If we include the data that has already been produced by Northland Resources, our estimate is that approximately 50 million has been spent on factual data and impact assessments, says Klas Dagertun.

> See full article in TN (Swe.)


Time to nominate for the Janne Kempe Stipend

Svemin annually awards one or more degree projects related to the mining industry with a stipend from the Janne Kempe’s Stipend Fund.

Janne Kempe’s Stipend Fund rewards one or more degree projects that are related to and important for the mining industry. For example, but not exclusively, environment, exploration, ore geology, law, energy, climate or working environment. The stipend is aimed at degree projects with application in the Swedish mining and metal-producing industry.

> Read more and nominate here


Svemin newsletter summer edition

 

Message from the CEO

Summer has made its entrance in large parts of the country – but the mining industry continues to mine, refine and deliver raw materials around the clock, all year round.

In Brussels, there is also high pressure right now. Svemin and many of our member companies work intensively to bring order to the tours around Sustainable Finance and the taxonomy, which potentially risks creating chaos for the entire industry. Read Hanna Stenegren’s analysis below. A lot is also happening around the EU’s action plan for critical raw materials, where Parliament is now preparing a self-initiative report. In addition, we are waiting for what is to be proposed in the EU’s Fit for 55 package, which will be presented on 14 July.

Next week, the digital version of Almedalen (Politician’s Week in Almedalen) will be arranged. Feel free to take part in the webinar The importance of the mining industry for climate transition, which will be broadcast on Wednesday 6 July on Almedalsveckan Play.

And last but not least, there is now the opportunity to come and start working with us at Svemin! We are looking for a new director of legal affairs – a role that is central to Svemin’s work and includes a number of areas, with the Environmental Code and the Minerals Act at the center. Read more and apply here. Feel free to share!

Summer greetings!

Maria Sunér, CEO Svemin


“We are very concerned about where the taxonomy process will land for the mining industry”

Right now, the work on criteria for the mining industry in the current taxonomy is at an important stage. The first proposal * will be presented at the end of July.
– We are currently very concerned about where the process will land for the mining industry, says Hanna Stenegren, expert in climate, energy and Sustainable Finance, Svemin.

The expert group (platform), which decides on the proposal to the Commission, consists of people from the banking and finance sector, environmental organizations and other NGOs, as well as industry. Unfortunately, there is only one person with experience in the mining industry in the working group (sector team) who produces the proposal for the expert group. In the expert group which then makes a decision on the proposal, there is no mining representative at all. The imbalance in the group worries the industry.

– It is obvious that there are strong forces that are only interested in tripping up the mining industry in Europe – we also see this in other ongoing EU processes. If they are allowed to dictate the conditions so that the extraction of the critical minerals and metals that we need in climate transition can not take place in Europe, then they play directly into the hands of China, which Europe is 100 percent dependent on imports for certain metals required for electric cars, wind turbines and solar panels, says Hanna Stenegren.

> More on the subject here


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.

> More on the subject here


New steering group of the network Women in Mining Sweden

Svemin is actively pursuing the issue of improving the conditions for the women who currently work in the Swedish mining and mineral industry, as well as for more women to see the industry as attractive. That is why Svemin hosts the Swedish section of the Women in Mining network. There is now a completely new steering group in place with strong roots in Svemin’s member companies.

The network’s goal is for the proportion of women in the industry to increase, in the boardrooms, in management groups as well as in the operations in general. Making good role models visible and raising women is therefore central. As part of this, WIM Swe will produce a list of competent women in the industry, for the benefit of recruiters as well as the media, conference organizers and others seeking expert votes from the mining and minerals sector. Another of the first tasks for the new steering group is to have statistics produced on women in the mining and minerals industry, in terms of occupations, type of unit, etc.

Who can join the Women in Mining Sweden network? Everyone who works in the Swedish mining and mineral industry and shares WIM Sweden’s objectives can be members of the network. The member register is administered by Svemin.

> More on WIM Swe here


Amendment to the Act (2010: 1011) on flammable and explosive goods

Tighter control over explosive goods. 17 June, the Riksdag decided to adopt the Government’s bill on stricter control over explosive goods. The amendments to the law mean, among other things, that the current permit examination will be more extensive.

> Further reading here


Svemins Environmental Conference will be digital this year

This year’s Environmental Conference will be held as a webinar on 6 October. The usual form of the environmental conference will return during 2022 when we plan a major physical event. Keep an eye out for newsletters and svemin.se for more information after the summer.


Upcoming Svemin events 2021 / 2022

2021

October 6: Environmental Conference, webinar

November 18: Autumn Meeting, Stockholm

2022

February 9: Work Environment, Health & Safety Conference, Luleå

April 27-28: Environmental Conference I, Örebro / Zinkgruvan

May, tbd: Swedish Mining Research & Innovation Day, Luleå

October, tbd: Environmental Conference II, Kiruna


Svemin newsletter June

Message from the CEO

At the Brussels arena, there are many issues that are of great importance to the mining industry on the table right now. These are intensive days of final negotiations on criteria for the mining industry within the framework of Sustainable Finance – the taxonomy, which is a central part of the framework for sustainable financing. An evaluation work is underway to see if the mining industry should be covered by the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED), and the EU’s strategy for biodiversity 2030 is being discussed. In addition, the European Parliament is working on its own initiative report on the Critical Raw Materials Action Plan.

All of these issues greatly affect the mining industry in Sweden. In order for the Swedish and European mining industries to be able to contribute with sustainably produced metals and minerals in the green transition, these regulations must be properly designed, and not create unnecessary obstacles for the industry’s development. The EU already has a situation today where we are in principle wholly, or to a large extent, dependent on imports for many key raw materials for the green transition. This is a risk not least when the need for these materials will increase dramatically as the world moves towards net-zero climate emissions.

EU policy must be coherent. If we are to meet the EU’s high ambitions regarding climate transition, access to raw materials must also be secured.


Five clever solutions for the mining industry

Five prototypes that will improve the work in the mining industry. This is the result of the EU project Smart Exploration, which has been led by Uppsala University. – There is a great demand for cost-effective and environmentally friendly methods in the mining industry, says Alireza Malehmir, who is the scientific leader of the project.

Three of the five prototypes have been developed here in Sweden, in projects led by researchers from Uppsala University or where the university has been a partner – a GPS time system for hard-to-reach areas 1500-2000 meters underground, a drone system for electromagnetic measurements and a digital system for seismic-magnetic temperature measurements.

The other two prototypes have been developed in collaboration with a Danish and a Dutch company, where helicopters and electric vibrators are used to map the underground.

Within the project, more than a hundred scientific articles have already been published by about 30 doctoral students and postdocs. Now the work of exporting the results to the mining industry continues.

> More on uu.se (Swe)


Vetonu: The “green” transition is a dirty story

Last week, Svemin replicated mining-critical debate articles in Nerikes Allehanda and Altinget. In the Altinget, Vetonu described the green transition as “a dirty story” and referred to a call containing nine demands – including dissolving ERMA, which the network signed. > More here.

In Nerikes Allehanda, Aktion Rädda Vättern (Action Save the Vättern) debates that the mining industry is not part of the solution to the climate change we are all facing. The review procedure and in particular Natura 2000 is also addressed as a major problem. > More on na.se (Swe).


What’s up…

Jesper Hedin, expert competence supply, Svemin. What is happening in the area of competence supply?
– Right now, the work is focused on creating a validation model for miners. The validation model is primarily intended to function as a tool in companies’ work with competence development, but can also be used in, for example, training of new employees and as requirements for training suppliers. The work continues and hopefully we will have a complete validation model ready by the autumn of 2022. Soon we will also update the competence supply roadmap.

Exciting, the roadmap is only two years old, is it needed?

– Yes, and we should be happy about that. With all the major industrial investments being made in the northern parts of Sweden in the mining and steel industry, we need to make a new start in the roadmap. In addition to the conditions and needs being completely different, we also need to be even clearer about what skills are needed in the future.

– The roadmap should also more clearly link to other positive initiatives such as the T25. Working together to increase the attractiveness of northern Sweden, increase the number of students who stay after graduation from LTU and also secure employment for accompanying people are current issues that the industries have long emphasized. That those issues are now further addressed is something we need to take note of.

How is the work done?

– We are in the planning phase right now, we hope to be able to start the work this autumn. I’ll be back with more detailed information.

> Svemin’s competence roadmap on svemin.se


How to get a favorable industry climate in Sweden

Sweden is privileged with a large industrial production. It benefits us all when the Swedish economy restarts after the pandemic. A quarter of this year’s GDP increase is expected to come from industry and investment is expected to increase by eleven percent. But if the industry is to continue to invest, create growth and new jobs here in Sweden, both predictable and favorable conditions are required, says the steering group for the Industry’s Reform Agenda in a debate article in Norrbottens-Kuriren. > More here.

Also, the Industry’s Reform Agenda now has its own website
The reform agenda that describes what Swedish industry needs in order to best contribute to accelerating growth and strengthening Swedish industry’s competitiveness is based on discussions and data from the participating organizations as well as a large number of interviews with business leaders, union leaders, academics and opinion leaders. Behind the agenda are 14 industry and employer organizations that together represent the entire Swedish industry.

> More on industrinsreformagenda.se (Swe)


Svemin presence during Euro Mine Connect

Euro Mine Expo became Euro Mine Connect this year and was held as a pandemic-safe digital conference between 1 and 3 June. Women in Mining-Sweden broadcast the panel discussion from last year’s webinar Gender Equality in Steel & Mining, together with Jernkontoret’s Metallkvinnor. Maria Sunér moderated the third day of the conference with the theme Sustainable mines, where, among other things, the Svemin-run TraceMet was presented by project manager Erik Lindblom.

> Watch the panel discussion from WiM on Svemin’s Youtube channel. See the entire program from Euro Mine Connect and watch reruns here.


Svemin newsletter May

Message from the CEO

70 percent of the world’s climate emissions are now covered by targets to reduce to net zero by 2050. This is very good. To meet these ambitions, technological shifts are required in many sectors – not least in terms of how we generate and use energy. Electrification with fossil-free electricity is a key to achieving our ambitions.

The International Energy Agency, IEA recently launched an important study which shows the increased need for critical minerals in the transition to a climate-neutral society.

The main conclusions of the report

  • an imminent risk that access to critical minerals will become a bottleneck to cope with the climate
  • the energy sector will become a leading consumer of minerals as the energy transition accelerates
  • the world goes from being heavily dependent on the countries that produce fossil fuels to being dependent on the countries that can extract and refine the materials that the new energy technology needs
  • in 2040, it is estimated that recycling will reduce the need for primary raw materials by about 10% – increased production of primary minerals will therefore be needed for a long time

Sweden, as a leading mining nation in the EU, has fantastic opportunities to contribute with sustainably produced minerals that are needed for globally increased climate ambitions. Of the minerals that are critical for fossil-free energy technologies, virtually all are found in the Swedish bedrock. We just need the conditions to continue to develop and extract these.

Unfortunately, the trend is in the opposite direction. Changes in the order in which the environmental assessment for Natura 2000 is to be carried out create new obstacles. The news that recently came from Bergsstaten regarding one of the world’s largest deposits of rare earth metals in Norra Kärr shows this. The image that is now spreading of Sweden as a mining nation internationally is worrying. The trend needs to be reversed!

> More about the study here


Why the taxonomy risks creating chaos for the mines

Say ‘sustainable finance’ and everyone who can not (and even those who can) their EU bureaucracy wanders nervously. But keep calm, Svemin’s expert in energy and climate, Hanna Stenegren, explains the concepts. And it may be needed, because the turns are both many and complicated. In addition, the process risks creating chaos for the Swedish mining industry.

– Ultimately, it is about that we risk ending up on the so-called brown list, that is, that the industry is classified as unsustainable, despite the fact that we are one of the world’s most sustainable mining industries, says Hanna Stenegren.

> More from Hanna on sustainable finance here


What’s up Sara Töyrä, Chair of AGDA, Svemin’s tailings dam safety group

Last week, Svemin’s board decided to update GruvRIDAS – the mining industry’s guidelines for tailings dam safety. AGDA has been working on the document for a little more than three years.

Why is it so important to have a common guide for working with tailings dams?

– A tailings dam failure at one of the Swedish mines would negatively affect confidence in the entire mining industry. It just must not happen. Therefore, it is important that we agree on a sustainable way of working for the management of our mining dams.

Why a new GruvRIDAS?

– The previous version of GruvRIDAS came in 2012 and since then there have been several accidents in mining dams in the world, two of which in Brazil with catastrophic consequences. These accidents have really focused on the dam safety work of both dam owners and investors, which has led to the development progressing, which is also reflected in a new international standard for handling tailings. There is also new legislation in the area so it was really time for a new edition of GruvRIDAS.

What is new from the previous edition?

– GruvRIDAS is based on the Swedenergy (Energiföretagen Sverige) guidelines on tailings dam safety, RIDAS, so those who have browsed RIDAS will recognize themselves. The new version of GruvRIDAS is based on a risk-based approach and the guideline has been adapted to both the new legislation and the international standard. It will also look better than the previous version.

Where can you get it?

– GruvRIDAS will be available for download on Svemin’s website as soon as we have completed the design of the document.

If you are curious about both GruvRIDAS and your company’s tailings dam safety work, you can always talk to your company’s RIDAS manager.


The Swedish Mine is back

In late autumn 2020, The Swedish Mine (Den Svenska Gruvan) saw the light of day. The common voice of the mining industry with the goal of reaching the public, a public that is all too often ambivalent about whether the mining industry really needs to be developed. Klas Nilsson, chair of the steering group and on a daily basis communications director at Boliden, talks about how the first campaign was received and what is going on.

Why the Swedish Mine?

– The world does not stand still. Climate transition requires more metal and minerals and we need to continue to invest in both new and existing mines to cope with competition in a global market and not least to ensure that the metals and minerals needed for the transition are available. We need to make that clear to the public. We know that there is an ambivalence and ignorance about our industry and our role in a sustainable society – that is why we created a common voice for this – The Swedish Mine.

> More on the Swedish Mine here


Svemin newsletter April #2

High media presence for the mining industry in the last week

Message from the CEO

What an exciting mining week it has been! It was a long time since the constructive media presence was so high in our questions. We have listed a selection of press clippings below. I would especially like to highlight the rejoinder we wrote together with Svemin’s chairman, Mikael Staffas, on DN Debatt.

An important political milestone also came last week (23d of April) when the Riksdag pointed out the direction for when Natura 2000 testing is to be done in the process for new mines. It became clear after the Committee on Industry and Trade’s initiative was voted through. A victory of reason over misdirected environmental benefits.

In addition; Joe Biden’s positive message that the US is greatly increasing its climate ambitions already by 2030 puts even more focus on the mining industry. Because without mines, no climate transition. The technologies needed to achieve climate goals faster – solar cells, wind turbines, electrified vehicles and batteries – all require increased amounts of metal and minerals.

A report from the World Bank also points out that higher climate ambitions also significantly increase the need for metal. And even if systems for recycling up to 100% are created, it only reduces the need for primary raw materials by 15-30% depending on the metal being studied. So mines and the metals and minerals we provide are highly in the focus of the world.

In summary, the media presence does not really change the facts on the ground. But we hope that it, together with the work we and the rest of the Swedish mining cluster work with daily, and perhaps the spring sun, helps to thaw the monumental political deadlock [Svemin newsletter Jan. 21] in the government regarding our issues.

Sweden is, as you know, Europe’s most significant mining nation. In our bedrock, there is potential for more than half of the raw materials on the EU’s critical list. In other words, Sweden has good conditions to play an even more important role with the green transition.


[Note: The press clippings are from the Swedish press. Translate to English by right-clicking and selecting ‘Translate to English’ (in Google Chrome), or, on your computer, go to Google Translate. In the text box, enter a URL. To choose the language you want to translate to, at the top right, click the down arrow. On the right, click the URL that appears. The URL will open a new tab and the website will be translated.]

> Open up the mines – Sweden has a golden opportunity. The government has pushed itself into Joe Biden’s climate summit at the last second. If it wants to do the world a favor for real, it can start by breathing new life into the Swedish mining industry.
Editorial, leading article, Expressen, April 22

> New Swedish mines are needed if we are to succeed in electrification. This is stated by Minister for Business, Industry and Innovation Ibrahim Baylan (S). – We can not just bemoan when we read that cobalt is extracted by child workers in Congo, he says.
Ibrahim Baylan, Minister for Business, Industry and Innovation, Svenska Dagbladet, April 20

> Beowulf chairman writes to Baylan, addresses Kallak’s importance for Jokkmokk and the green transformation.
Svenska Dagbladet, Industry, April 20

> Scandivanadium was opposed from the start, by landowners, local authorities and Skåne municipal and regional politicians. The reality facing the mining industry is very far from the vision documents.
Peter Wennblad, lead writer and ass. head of the editorial board, Svenska Dagbladet, April 19

> No contradiction between primary raw materials and recycling. In Sweden, there is potential for more than half of the raw materials on the EU’s critical list. In addition, there is already today one of the most climate-efficient productions in the world, with extensive investments to continue to wear the leader ‘s shirt in the global innovation power measurement.
Maria Sunér, CEO of Svemin, Mikael Staffas, CEO Boliden and Chair of the Svemin board, DN Debatt, April 18

> Sweden is the land of opportunity. Historically, the mining industry has been one of the most important players in driving technological development. The mining industry has the opportunity to do it again, but then politics must create the right conditions.
Lars Hjälmered, business and energy policy spokesperson (M), Svenska Dagbladet Debatt, April 18

> Restore Sweden’s status as a world-class mining nation. From being a world-class mining nation, Sweden has plummeted from place eight to place thirty-six in the international mining rankings for the past four years. This is due, among other things, to unclear rules and slow permit processes.
Ulf Kristersson, party leader (M), Elisabeth Svantesson, economic-political spokesperson (M), Dagens Industri Debatt, March 21

> Sweden thus has the chance to build the world’s most environmentally friendly mining operations. The EU also calls on the member states to increase their own production in order to meet the enormous demand for, among other things, electric cars in the future. But in Sweden, the “please hold” line applies.
Anna Dahlberg, head editorial staff, Expressen, Expressen, March 20


Svemin newsletter April

 

Message from the CEO

Without mines no electrification. Climate change and the need for electricity in the future are high on the political agenda right now. The forecasts are constantly updated and the Swedish Energy Agency’s latest long-term forecast points to an electricity use of 234 TWh in 2050, and other analyzes point to more. This is about 100 TWh more than what we use today. And the development is driven not least by electrification in the transport sector and the industry’s climate transition.

The mining industry contributes in a way twice to this trend. On the one hand, there is a rapid transformation towards electrification and fossil freedom in mining operations and at our mining technology companies. More electricity enables products with low carbon footprints to be exported worldwide. This is something Svemin will now capture in the update of the industry’s climate roadmap that we have initiated.

At the same time, the mines’ products are absolutely crucial in achieving this development. Not only the battery minerals cobalt, lithium and graphite but also copper, iron and nickel which are key materials for the infrastructure needed. We will capture this in another exciting project that will be reported in the summer. And the most exciting thing in this is the opportunity the Swedish mining industry has to contribute with sustainably produced metals and minerals.


Special legislation risks hindering resource-efficient extraction

An inquiry wants to tighten the regulations for extraction from alum shale – despite the fact that the rock can contain both valuable and sought-after metals for the green transition. It is inappropriate with special legislation for extraction from a specific rock type, Svemin says in its consultation response, but also points to reasonable clarifications in the consultation.

There will be higher demands on the operator who in the future plans extraction from alum shale. It was clear when the inquiry chair Helén Leijon presented the Alum shale investigation (SOU 2020: 71). The inquiry also contains proposals for several knowledge-raising initiatives, which Svemin welcomes in its response to the consultation. It is about a new research program, a forum for competence development and several assignments to map facts about alum shale and what extraction from alum shale would mean.

But Svemin is generally critical of the inquiry’s proposal to introduce special legislation for a specific rock type, in this case alum shale.
– It is inappropriate for several reasons and we see several application problems with such legislation, says Kerstin Brinnen, Svemin’s legal counsel.

The bedrock is complex and special legislation risks leading to ambiguities and limitations that lack scientific support and hinder resource-efficient extraction. The Inquiry’s proposal on tightening is a consequence of the fact that the Inquiry was explicitly instructed to propose tightening in the legislation, rather than to propose constructive improvements.

– All types of exploration are relevant to meet future technology development. We need to know what conditions we have for extracting metals that we need both now and maybe in ten years, says Kerstin Brinnen.

> More on the alum shale inqury here


Helén Leijon appointed to the inquiry into innovation-critical metals and minerals

Ibrahim Baylan, Minister of Business, Industry and Innovation, has appointed Helén Leijon as inquiry chair for the task of reviewing permit processes and regulations in order to ensure a sustainable supply of innovation-critical metals and minerals.

Helén Leijon, head of unit at the County Administrative Board in Västernorrland County, has been commissioned to analyze and propose changes to permit processes and regulations so that better consideration can be given to both a project’s local environmental impact and its societal benefits, such as reduced global climate impact. Helén Leijon will also propose changes to permit processes and regulations so that a larger share of the value generated by the mining and minerals industry can benefit the entire country. The proposed changes should not mean that the total tax burden on the mining and minerals industry increases or that the investment climate deteriorates. The assignment must be reported no later than October 31, 2022.

> More on the inquiry here


Jenny Greberg, Program Director Swedish Mining Innovation. On May 18, together with Svemin, you are arranging this year’s major event for mining-related research; Swedish Mining Research and Innovation Day.

Why should one not miss Swedish Mining Research and Innovation Day?

– Swedish Mining Research and Innovation Day, which many recognize as Bergforskdagarna, is the time of year when industry, research actors, stakeholders and decision-makers can gather and focus entirely on research and innovation. It is an important opportunity for dialogue, gathering strength and for communicating both current initiatives but also strategies and needs. We highlight both more technical themes but also policy issues and strategies for the innovation system.

What do you especially want to highlight in the program?

– This year we are drilling deeper into Swedish world-leading mining innovation. From an innovation perspective, Sweden is a role model internationally, with world-leading mining companies, equipment and system suppliers and an innovation system and a collaboration model that is key to success. This year we take the pulse of how this really works – are we doing what we’re supposed to do? Do we do it at the pace that is necessary both from a sustainability but also an economic perspective? And are there the prerequisites in the form of competence, resources and regulations to achieve the highly set goals?

> More on Swedish Mining Research and Innovation Day here


Robert Persson Asplund, chief psychologist, researcher, organizational consultant and keynote speaker at Svemin’s Health and Safety Conference tomorrow, April 14.

You are a co-author of the report Vision zero provides increased competitiveness, which you will talk more about tomorrow. Do you want to highlight something special that you found when writing the report?

– I do not want to spoil too much, but, investments in work environment, health and safety are profitable for companies in the mining industry.

The vision zero is supported by the pillars of leadership, participation and competence. Are there any of the cornerstones that the mining industry is particularly good at? Is there any area that needs to be developed?

– The mining industry is in many ways a model for the entire labor market and for other industries within leadership, participation and competence in terms of physical work environment and safety work. The mining industry is well placed to be the best in class, also in organizational and social work environment and health.

Finally, what do you wish everyone knew about work environment, safety and health?

– I would like everyone who listens to know that with relatively small means you can improve the working environment and health and thus the profitability of the mining industry.

Svemin’s Health and Safety Conference kicks off tomorrow, 14 April. The conference is a live webinar between 13.00 and 14.30.

> Read more about the conference here (Swe.)


Svemin newsletter March

 

Message from the CEO

It is an exciting situation for the mining industry. It is clear to more and more people that an ambitious climate policy will increase the need for metals and minerals – both those we already produce and use today but also more new metals. And the fact is that the faster we want to reduce our climate emissions, the greater the need to get more metals into the cycle.

The Swedish metal-based industry, where the mining industry is the starting point, is, to say the least, red hot. There is much to suggest that the future lies in the north. New investments such as LKAB’s giant one, H2 Green Steel’s establishment in Boden, Northvolt; which is already announcing production increases in Skellefteå and Boliden’s launch of green copper and exploration successes in the Boliden Area. This is just the beginning of what could actually happen in a future perspective. Sweden and the Nordic countries have every opportunity to take a leading position as a supplier of sustainable materials for climate change.

Several pieces of the puzzle around this have been discussed under Svemin’s direction in recent weeks; our launch of TraceMet – a system for tracing sustainability data for metals, something we believe will be a matter of course in the future, and the value chain event we had within the framework of EU Industry Days together with FinnMin, North Sweden European Office and Region Västerbotten – where we raised the European Arctic region’s opportunity to contribute to the EU’s climate goals.

The opportunities and willingness to invest exist, but the first step in the value chain – the mining industry – still has difficult challenges around the permit processes. The directives to the inquiry about the mining industry and the Minerals Act that was launched last week and what it will deliver is still rather unclear. Read Svemin’s full comment here. Inquiries in all glory, we want to see concrete changes that facilitate investments.


There are 250 different professions in the mining and mineral industry. At least.

#250yrken (250professions) is the name of the campaign that is currently rolling out to reach young people who are about to apply to universities and colleges. The campaign is visible on social media until April 15 when the application period closes. Feel free to share our posts! Read more at svemin.se/250yrken (Swe.)


Explore Svemin’s latest webinars

Last week, Svemin arranged two very well-attended webinars. In collaboration with our Finnish sister organization, FinnMin, the Finnish Mining Association, North Sweden European Office and Region Västerbotten, a three session webinar was organized within the framework of the EU Industry Week. Svemin also presented the strategic project TraceMet; on traceability of metals and minerals.

> Read more here, watch the webinars and don’t forget to subscribe! 


Boliden first in the world with green copper

Boliden’s goal is to reduce carbon dioxide intensity from its operations by 40 percent by 2030, calculated from the base year of 2012. This initiative includes, among other things, development of two specific product categories within copper production – copper with a low carbon footprint and recycled copper. The first category is copper produced from concentrates originating from Boliden’s own mines, while the second category of copper is produced from secondary materials. For both, external audits of the calculation criteria have been carried out.

> Read more in the press release here.


Svemin newsletter February

 

Message from the CEO

It is gratifying that the Riksdag decided on 10 February that all exploration permits should be extended for one year, as a measure to make it easier for exploration companies affected by corona. This comes as a relief to one of the hardest hit parts of the industry during the pandemic.

The origin is a proposal that Svemin submitted to the government in a petition already at the beginning of the pandemic. We are happy that it has now become a reality for all permits and not just for those who are in the final extension as in the first proposal from the government. This has been made possible thanks to a majority in the Riksdag.
At the same time as this positive news comes, the situation remains worrying regarding the investment climate in the mining industry in Sweden, not least as a result of the permit processes. We are now waiting for how this will be reflected in the annual ranking by the Canadian Fraser Institute of the investment climate in the mining industry in different regions of the world. The next version is expected at the end of February.

Svemin continues to work actively to spread information and form an opinion about the mining and mineral industry in Sweden and also has many exciting activities underway; In March, Svemin is organizing a seminar under the auspices of EU Industry Week on the theme of how Europe’s Arctic region can contribute to the sustainable supply of metals and minerals, and the same month the traceability project TraceMet will also be launched.

> More on the decision here.


TraceMet: Expert webinar on the new traceability system for metals

The origin of metals in consumer products is playing an increasing role for both consumers and producers. That is why Svemin has taken the initiative for the completely new traceability system TraceMet. The pilot study is now complete.

The purpose of TraceMet is to develop a simplified, but fully functional, IT system to trace certified metals from mining to end use. The project uses the criteria carbon footprint, and amount recycled material. Now we will tell you how it works.

> Read more and sign up here.

… and already on February 24 you can hear more about TraceMet

During Future Mine & Mineral 2021, Svemin’s CEO Maria Sunér talks about the background to the TraceMet initiative. Project manager Erik Lindblom, IVL Swedish Environmental Institute, talks about how the blockchain technology used to track metals works and Sven Hjelmstedt, Director Sales, Boliden Smelters, talks about why Boliden chose to participate in the project and what he sees as the next step for traceable metals.

Future Mine & Mineral takes place on 23 and 24 of February. Read more and sign up at futuremineandmineral.com


The exploration industry can – temporarily – exhale after a change in the law

There will be extensions of exploration permits. It was clear on Wednesday when the Riksdag clubbed a change in the Minerals Act.
– Very positive, the pandemic has hit the exploration companies hard, says Maria Sunér, CEO Svemin.

When the Riksdag on Wednesday decided that all exploration permits should be extended for one year, as a measure to make it easier for exploration companies affected by corona, it would have immediate consequences for several exploration companies. Talga, which is developing a graphite deposit in Vittangi in Norrbotten, followed Wednesday’s debate and vote closely.

– Today’s decision shows that they have listened and understood how important the modern, Swedish mining industry is for a sustainable transformation of the entire economy, says Talga’s CEO Martin Phillips.

> Full story here.


Svemin newsletter January

 

Message from the CEO

Monumental deadlock in the government are slowing down real climate change

The Swedish mining industry is a world leader in sustainable and climate-efficient production of metals. We are proud of that. The Swedish mining and mineral industry will be electrified and carbon dioxide neutral well before 2045, and also has a roadmap to contribute net positively to biodiversity by 2030 – Mining with Nature

Some of the world’s most productive and efficient mines can be found at LKAB and Boliden. The collaboration that takes place around innovation between mining companies, technology suppliers and academia is an international model. Earlier this week, Kaunis Iron signed an agreement with Vattenfall to develop electrified, fossil-free, mining operations in order to be able to deliver the world’s most sustainable iron ore.

The export successes for the Swedish mining technology companies are also phenomenal – Sandvik and Epiroc together have more than 60 percent of the world market for underground equipment. In 2019, ores, metals and minerals were exported to a value of SEK 120 billion, about 8 percent of Sweden’s total exports of goods. In addition, exports of mining technology were more than SEK 150 billion from companies such as Epiroc, Sandvik, ABB and Metso-Outotec. And there is great potential for more. Existing mining companies are ready to invest in the future with billions in investments. Sweden’s rich bedrock provides unique opportunities to contribute to Europe’s needs for the innovation – critical metals the transition needs. And innovation and technology exports have the potential to deliver more.

But despite this, one constantly wonders if the Swedish government really wants any mining industry in Sweden in the future – at all. The government’s handling of the mining industry’s permit processes signals that the mining industry should not bother in Sweden. With the government’s degrading treatment of Nordkalk’s Bunge project in fresh memory, we now see new political twists and turns around the issues that have been on the government’s table for several years speak their clear language.

The Kallak issue has been sent for a statement to UNESCO, which normally does not have a role in Swedish administration, on whether there is a risk of any indirect impact on the world heritage Laponia.

On the evening before Christmas Eve (!), Boliden’s project Laver was unexpectedly rejected by the government on its application for a processing concession. The consequences will be extensive – for all companies. The decision creates a new and aggravating practice; a Natura 2000 permit will be required to obtain a processing concession from now on. The political handling is remarkable in a state governed by the rule of law.

Unfortunately, there are more examples where the mining and mineral industry’s investments are hampered by political decisions and the authorities’ push for changed practices. Despite two announcements in the Riksdag about the importance of streamlining the mining industry’s permit processes, no actual change has been achieved since the S-MP government took over in 2014. The government’s internal deadlocks seem monumental, despite high ambitions for the climate – a climate change that requires sustainably produced metals and minerals.

Obviously, the message is beginning to reach international investors. The number of exploration permits applied for decreases every year. In 2020, only 130 were applied for, a 40 percent reduction in just two years. The number of current exploration permits has decreased by more than 30 percent since 2013. This is remarkable by the government of a country with high climate ambitions and a world-leading mining cluster, a country that could play a key role in the EU’s ambitions to increase the important supply of raw materials. For climate change and for our welfare.

It is time for a comprehensive retake of Swedish mineral policy. Do not delay the real climate change.


Research, freedom, future – knowledge and innovation for Sweden

The Research and Innovation Bill, which was presented on 18 December, contains investments totaling SEK 13.6 billion during the period 2021–2024. Svemin welcomes the investment and that the government shows that they have listened to the business community, with, among other things, announced investments linked to the collaboration programs and the strategic innovation programs.

In addition, the higher education institutions’ base funding is permanently increased by 900 million. The innovation system is strengthened with investments that include strategic innovation programs, research institutes, test and demonstration environments as well as lowered thresholds for utilization and commercialization.

–We are very positive about the increased allocation to Vinnova, which restores previous savings and also provides a certain contribution. The fact that funds are added to the strategic innovation programs is gratifying and central to enabling necessary research and innovation to meet societal challenges, says Maria Sunér, CEO of Svemin.

Svemin is also in favor of the Government’s proposal for amendments to the Higher Education Act to strengthen and clarify the university’s responsibility for collaboration, internationalization, lifelong learning and to strengthen academic freedom.

The business community has an ambition level that Sweden’s investments in R&D will increase by one percent of GDP, ie SEK 50 billion, by 2030. Three quarters of this has been promised by the business community itself. The Government’s investment in this bill is therefore an important first step in achieving a higher ambition.

– However, it is not clear in the bill how the investment in the strategic innovation programs will be designed, says Katarina Nilsson, responsible for research and innovation issues at Svemin, and points out that it is important to take advantage of what works well in the existing programs.

The industry’s transformation will require major investments in both digitalisation and climate change. It is therefore good that initiatives linked to the collaboration programs in these areas are now being announced.

– We see Minister of Trade and Industry Ibrahim Baylan’s presence at the launch as a clear signal from politics about the importance of collaboration between politics, business and research. However, much more is needed to meet the societal challenges. How the government chooses to manage, among other things, the EU Recovery Fund can thus control how Sweden meets societal challenges, not least digitalisation and climate change, says Katarina Nilsson.


Svemin newsletter October

Message from the CEO

Right now, a lot of exciting things are happening around raw materials and mining, not least linked to our opportunities to achieve climate goals. In September, the European Commission presented a raw materials strategy, linked to the updating of the EU’s list of critical materials.

A critical material is a substance on which the EU and EU industry have a strong dependence – among other things to cope with climate change – and where there is also a risk of disruptions in deliveries to the EU. The list now includes 30 different substances, most of which are metallic elements.

One of the ten measures proposed in the raw materials strategy is an industry-driven raw materials alliance – something that Svemin and our member companies of course support. Launched at the end of September, it aims to promote investment in order to strengthen the EU’s raw material supply.

Sweden has a unique opportunity to contribute as we in our bedrock have good potential to extract more than half of the materials on EU:s ctitical list. If you add that the Swedish mining industry is at the forefront in terms of sustainability and social conditions in mining, then we have a fantastic opportunity to contribute with sustainable materials needed to cope with the climate change. We also need to know more about our bedrock, and what opportunities there are there. It is therefore positive that the Land and Environmental Court now gives Scandivanadium the right to proceed with its exploration for Vanadium in Skåne – a metal that could be of great importance for climate-neutral electricity systems.

Of course, we are also excited about Svemin’s digital Autumn Meeting on November 17th, where we will dig deeper into the EU’s focus on raw material issues, investments in climate innovations and traceable metals.

See you on screen!

More: Maria Sunér Fleming on the EU’s new initiatives and measures regarding raw materials


Svemin’s Environmental Conference 2020
– Focus on collaboration as a key to success

The 2020 Environmental Conference, which was to take place in Kiruna, was instead a two-day live broadcast conference from Stockholm. Five digital sessions that all revolved around this year’s main theme – sustainable raw material supply. An exclusive group of Swedish and international speakers delved into biodiversity, water management, tailings dam safety, certification and traceability, as well as the main theme of sustainable raw material supply.

A common thread through the conference sessions was collaboration between actors; companies, academia and government as a key to success. Not least in tailings dam safety where the new Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management was discussed and good examples of implementations of the standard were presented.

Another recurring theme was the focus on the mining industry as an important part of the solution to the environmental and societal challenges we see; not only in Sweden and the EU but also globally. The Svemin owned and unique project Mining with Nature, which will result in the first roadmap for biodiversity in the mining industry later this autumn, was presented and attracted great interest. TraceMet, the project that aims to be able to trace and certify metals from mining to end use and which is run by Svemin and IVL, was also presented and discussed together with similar initiatives from both the EU and Canada. TraceMet will be presented in its entirety later this autumn.

You can see the speakers’ presentations here and you can also watch the entire conference here.

The focus is now on the Environmental Conference 2021, which kicks off in the first week of October. Then we hope to see you on site in Kiruna.


The three finalists in the Swedish Mining Innovation Award have been nominated

After intensive and tough jury work, it is now clear who the three finalists in the Swedish Mining Innovation Award 2020 will be. The prize, established in 2019, is awarded by the national strategic innovation program Swedish Mining Innovation, and rewards something that is innovative and of great benefit to the mining industry.

The three finalists are Orexplore for their X-ray technology for drill cores, Widefind for their positioning system for people and equipment and Minalyze for their scanner of large volumes of drill core samples. All innovations push the industry towards increased efficiency, which is of great benefit both sustainability and profitability. More on the Innovation Award here.


Euromines on mineral use and supply

Euromines has produced several information leaflets on metal and mineral use in various industries. In line with the EU’s ongoing initiatives on, among other things, self-sufficiency in raw materials, Euromines describes the use of metals and minerals in the medicine, health, electronics, carbon neutrality and logistics sectors. More here.


The Briefcase of Mineral Applications

EIT Raw Materials has developed the game The Briefcase of Mineral Applications. The purpose is to familiarize the player with the minerals used in the manufacture of everyday objects. In the game, different objects must be matched with the right mineral. The game is available in several languages (soon also in Swedish) and in versions for 6-9-year-olds, 10-14-year-olds and a version for teachers. Play the game here!


Svemin newsletter August

 

Message from the CEO

Svemin and the mining industry are ready for the autumn. It is still a different time with Corona, but the mining industry has so far been stable through the crisis. Production has been maintained at normal levels and the mining industry has been able to make a positive contribution to the national economy in Sweden. It is also positive that the mining industry attracts more women than ever – thanks to a determined effort to increase gender equality in the industry.

It is becoming increasingly clear that metals and minerals are important building blocks for our modern and climate-smart society. The Corona pandemic has provided the insight that global value chains can be easily broken, and that large dependencies on raw materials from individual countries can pose a risk. Against this background, the EU is expected to launch an alliance of raw materials in September, focusing on securing Europe’s need for key raw materials to cope with climate change and digitalisation. This is something we welcome. Sweden has great opportunities to become a central supplier for many of the important metals and minerals that the EU sees as particularly critical.

At the same time, the permit processes in Sweden continue to be a major obstacle to the development of the mining industry. Therefore, it is very positive that an investigation is finally set up with the aim of achieving a more modern and more effective permit examination. This is something you can read more about here.


What’s up, Lars-Åke Lindahl

Director Environment at Svemin and project manager for the Environmental Conference, October 7-8

What is the feeling before this year’s conference?

– Really exciting. Initially, it was of course disappointing not to be able to hold a conference in Kiruna as planned. But now that we are up and running, it feels engaging and fun, which it always is working with the Environmental Conference.

What theme will this year’s conference have and is there anything extra exciting to look forward to?

– Sustainable raw material supply. We will look at this issue from different angles in a series of thematic seminars. It is especially fun to be able to present a couple of the strategic projects we run in the environmental area. Partly the development of an industry roadmap for biodiversity, Mining with Nature and partly the pilot project for traceability of metals and minerals, TraceMet.

Full story here


More women working in mines

Half of Zinkgruvan’s summer substitutes are women. The previously heavily male-dominated mining industry is now seeing more and more women. Zinkgruvan’s goal is for 25% of the company’s 430 employees to be women and of the 60 summer temps this year, 50% were women. At Boliden and LKAB, almost every fourth employee in Sweden is a woman.

–We have worked actively to erase the image of a male-dominated job. This by highlighting our female employees and by being out in schools and having direct contact, says Monika Andersson, CSR manager at Zinkgruvan to Swedish Radio.

Full story here


Business will be the engine of the recovery from the Corona pandemic

It is the companies that make the wheels spin in the Swedish economy. But that requires a forward-looking reform agenda for stronger competitiveness, faith in the future and sustainability. Therefore, the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise wants to see a broad concentration of jobs when Sweden leaves the acute crisis.

This is the message from the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise in the unifying project Restart Sweden. During the summer, a website was launched where the business community’s proposals for openness and trade, investments and employment were presented.

– The corona crisis has affected all Swedish companies. For some, the situation remains acute. For others, improvement is visible. While some are now going at full speed. But even if the picture is fragmented, the goal is clear – the restart of Sweden requires that we get the whole business going, says Jan-Olov Jacke, CEO of the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise.

Restart Sweden’s website (Swe.)


Do not forget to nominate a mining innovation!

It is high time to nominate for the Swedish Mining Innovation Award. The nomination is open until August 31. It is possible to nominate an innovation, a project, an organization, a person or something else that has been of great importance to mining and innovation in Sweden.

Read more and nominate here!


Svemin newsletter June

 

Message from the CEO

Progress in the issue of extended permits
The Swedish mining industry has stood firm during the crisis and the Swedish mines and mineral producers have maintained their production throughout the corona pandemic and continued to invest in the future. The mining industry is thus a stable base in the Swedish economy already and has great opportunity to grow with sustainability and digitalization in focus.

 

However, the part of the mining industry that is the start of a new mine – exploration for metals – has had major challenges during the ongoing corona crisis. Exploration companies are capital-intensive and are also dependent on being able to carry out work on site in accordance with current permits, and it has proved difficult with traveling experts and equipment – in combination with a financial market put on back burner.

During the spring, Svemin has therefore put pressure on the government that 2020 must be seen as a lost year. In practice, this means that all exploration permits should automatically be extended by one year. The government also partially joined Svemin’s line in a bill in early June.
– The idea was good, says Maria Sunér Fleming, CEO Svemin, but the proposal became very narrow as it only included exploration permits that are in its final and 15th year. An unnecessary and unreasonable restriction. The crisis has hit equally hard on all exploration companies, regardless of the stage of their exploration permit.

A majority in the Riksdag now demands increased relief for the hard corona-affected exploration industry. The extended proposal from the Committee on Industry and Trade is fully in line with the request Svemin sent to the government as early as April.
– It is very positive that Parliament is beginning to realize the importance of a functioning mining industry, says Maria Sunér Fleming, CEO Svemin.

Read the full story here.


Health & Safety

Women more common on sick leave than men fresh statistics from the Swedish Work Environment Authority shows.

On May 27, the Swedish Work Environment Authority released the Work Injury Report for 2019. The report gives a picture of reported work accidents and occupational diseases within the respective industry and profession. The statistics provide information on the most common causes of the reported work accidents and occupational diseases and also the most common injuries that result from them.

The statistics show that women in the mineral extraction industry group increased the most in the number of people with sick leave. However, the Authority adds that this industry group is small in terms of the number of employed persons, especially women, so a relatively small change in the number of applications can have a major impact on the relative frequency.

– This is a figure we must follow. Just as the Swedish Work Environment Authority points out, a small change will have a major impact in the statistics and this is not a trend, but it is something we will follow closely, says Åsa Dahlfors, Svemin’s expert and adviser on Health & Safety.

Read more and download the report (Swe.)

Svemin’s Health & Safety Committee, GRAMKO’s, technology and medicine working groups have conducted a gas mapping of nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide during 2017-2019. The result is presented in the report Compilation and analysis of nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide measurements in Swedish mines from IVL, Swedish Environmental Research Institute.

Download the report here (Swe.): Sammanställning och analys av kvävedioxid- och kolmonoxidmätningar i svenska gruvor.


Other headlines

What’s up… Tove Hägglund, project manager for Svemin’s biodiversity project Mining with Nature

Nominate a mining innovation for the Swedish Mining Innovation Award

Principally important inquiry on alum slate

Next big step for HYBRIT


Svemin’s news release takes summer leave. We are back in August. We wish you all a nice summer!


Svemin newsletter May

 

Svemin’s new chairman about the future

At Svemin’s annual general meeting on May 7th, Mikael Staffas, CEO at Boliden, was elected as new Chairman of the Board. What are his thoughts on leadership style, the Corona virus and the mining industry’s most important issue?

Most powerful in the Swedish mining sector, how does it feel?

– I wouldn’t describe myself that way at all. It’s in the operations that the most important work is done and this is also where decisions are to be made. A high degree of delegation in organizations has, as I see it, been one of the most important success factors for the entire Nordic mining cluster.

How will the industry notice that you have taken over the Chairman’s gavel?

– It’s important in general to build on what you have rather than wish for everything to be different. Our industry is extremely important for many local communities as well as for the country as a whole. In addition, the industry also has a key role in the climate change adaptation, which I hope and believe will become increasingly known to the public. I also chair the European trade organization Eurometaux and see opportunities in a more coordinated way to contribute to the political processes in the EU.

How would you say that your leadership style and approach differ from your predecessor, Jan Moström, CEO of LKAB?

– We are, of course, different as individuals, but basically, we both have an extremely strong commitment to the mining industry in Sweden and in other countries. I would think that the general view of us will revolve around similarities rather than differences.

What is the industry’s most important issue right now, and how do you think it should be pushed forward?

– It is the question of what the environmental permit processes for the mining industry should really look like, and things are starting to be in a hurry. The mining industry has a long and proud history, but we cannot live on old merits for any length of time. We are totally dependent on the state processes working, which they do not do today. Here, there must be a quick and real political responsibility.

It is impossible not to mention the corona virus; what are the most important priorities now in the future to secure that mining nation Sweden?

– Above all, of course, it is about offering safe and healthy workplaces even in these times. It is also important that production proceeds as normally as possible. We are in a socially important industry and we will experience both the booms and the recessions. Of course, if we are to handle these, our framework conditions cannot differ too much from those of competitors in other parts of the world.

We round off with the classic question: what do you want most of all right now?

– That we as an industry become completely accident-free. Our industry already offers the safest jobs in the Swedish industry today, but we must continue to strive for the zero goal.


A roadmap for the industry

Climate initiatives, an attractive investment environment and free trade are important parts of securing Sweden as an industrial nation. In addition, mass testing is needed to get the economy started.

This is stated by Svemin’s CEO Maria Sunér Fleming together with Jonas Hagelqvist, CEO IKEM, Magnus Huss, Associate Director and CEO IKEM, Per Hidesten, CEO Industriarbetsgivarna, Bo-Erik Pers, Jernkontoret, Carina Håkansson, CEO Skogsindustrierna and Klas Wåhlberg, CEO of Teknikföretagen in financial newspaper Dagens industri.

“We within the Swedish industry are concerned about the economic situation, in Sweden but also globally. There is a big uncertainty about the extent of the consequences, but with certainty we know that competition will intensify. Therefore, Swedish companies must continue to produce even better products and services than competitors and Sweden must become a more attractive country for investment. That is the foundation of our welfare.”

“In order to get Sweden and the EU on its feet, immunity tests – which medical expertise has called for – need to be in place quickly. The testing that is currently under development must be quality assured and accepted throughout the EU. It is necessary for the industry and for the internal market to function in the short term. Moreover, to get us stronger out of the crisis, more and more powerful measures are needed.”
The measures are aimed at skill supply, sustained climate and sustainability ambitions, greater investment attractiveness and safeguarding free trade and a strong internal market within the EU.

“The way out of the crisis must be to create conditions for more jobs, increased export revenues and thus increased prosperity. It is time to secure the future of Sweden’s industrial nation”, the debate article concludes.

Full article here (Swedish).


Erik Lindblom, project manager at IVL Swedish Environmental Institute and responsible for TraceMet, Svemin’s pilot project to develop a traceability system for metals.

Soon halfway into project time, how are you doing?

– Exceeding expectations, this is a very high level of commitment and participation from all our industrial partners. It is very gratifying, especially given the difficult circumstances that currently prevail.

What have you come up with?

– We have tackled a lot of questions about what requirements such a system must fulfill. We are now working to find out what choices of paths this leads us to.

How difficult is it to create a new system of this type?

– It is difficult in the sense that we develop the target image in parallell with the system. The biggest challenges are not technical, but rather the challenges are to find a system that manages the trust between users. Block-chain technology is based on sharing data between all users and this type of data we need to track the metals is not currently shared between the various players in the value chain.

How do you create that trust?

– The method we have chosen is to have the entire value chains in the same project where we work closely together, with a large measure of openness in the project discussions. We simply start by building trust within the project team to be able to discuss trust between the organizations and thereby lay the foundation for a functioning system.

What will happen to the results of the pilot project?

– What we are developing is a system that will clearly show the functionality. Together with the joint development process, it becomes a basis for helping the actors to make an initiated decision on whether it is worth investing in developing this traceability system sharply. If the possible benefits of such a system outweigh the effort it will require.

More on TraceMet here.


Svemin newsletter April

 

Message from the CEO

 

The road back to the future requires metals and minerals

Despite a changing world, our Swedish mining and mineral industry is still strong in many respects. But beyond the acute phase with a focus on health aspects, we already need to plan for the way back to the future. A new start with continued focus on the UN’s sustainability goals and the Paris Agreement. There, metals and minerals are crucial.

The financial consequences of the corona pandemic indicate that we are facing a situation we have not seen since the Great Depression of the 1930s. For a small trade-dependent country like Sweden, the long-term impact will be significant. However, the Swedish mining sector is comparatively stable during the crisis and continues to be a stable foundation for the Swedish economy. The mining and mineral companies have so far kept their production at normal levels. They have been able to get components delivered and also continue to be able to deliver the products to customers and the world market.

The technology and service providers working in a global market are experiencing a slowdown as mines around the world have had to temporarily close down and have some challenges in the flow of components and key competence between countries. At this stage, therefore, Svemin has focused on enabling continued operation for the operations in progress; to create the conditions for logistics chains to continue to function and for key key competencies to travel where they are needed.

For the exploration companies, however, the effects of corona pandemic are more challenging. Read more about Svemin’s work to help them in a separate article below.

At the same time, we see that there is a need to start thinking about the way out of the crisis. An important basis is to stand for sustained sustainability and climate ambitions where the UN’s 17 sustainability goals and the Paris Agreement are important bases. Here, metals and minerals are still important building blocks to meet these objectives.

An important part of the recovery is that Sweden must still become more than attractive for investments in mining-related operations, as competition for industrial investment generally hardens in the wake of the crisis. Efficient and more predictable permit processes are an important part of this, together with the importance of continuing with important investments in research and innovation and securing access to competitive energy – three areas of focus for Svemin.

Maria Sunér Fleming, CEO Svemin


Frozen permits – an important step forward for exploration companies


Corona. The consequences of the corona pandemic have hit hard on all exploration activities. In order to mitigate the effects, 2020 should be seen as a lost year and all exploration permits should therefore temporarily be frozen.

75% of all exploration companies in Sweden believe the financing situation is currently problematic or very problematic. This is shown by Svemin’s recent membership survey *. Sweden as an investment country for exploration activities has long been criticized, mainly because of the insecure and inefficient permitting processes. Against this background, it’s even more important how society now handles the new, deteriorating, situation; primarily for the industry’s opportunities to survive the crisis but also as a signal for the outside world in the future. Full story here


The mining industry in pioneer venture on biodiversity

Svemin’s new project Mining with Nature will create a unified picture of the issues related to biodiversity that are relevant to the mining industry, both in the world and in Sweden. The goal is to make it easier for the industry and the individual companies to understand risks and opportunities and to set goals for their organization-specific work. More on Mining With Nature here


Traceable metals for a sustainable future

Copper, cobalt and lithium. The list of metals we depend on in a modern society is considerably longer than that. So far, it has been very difficult to know where and how durable metals are produced. Now a new traceability system should try to make it easier. The purpose of TraceMet – Traceability for sustainable metals and minerals, is to develop a simplified, but fully functional, IT system to follow certified metals from mine to end use. More on TraceMet here