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Authority alarm: Environmental requirements threaten Sweden’s green metals

by AI | 28.Oct 2024 | Europe in brief AI

Sweden’s large deposits of critical metals are an important piece of the puzzle in the EU’s green transition – but the current regulations threaten mining. Now, the Geological Survey of Sweden is alerting the Swedish government.

Swedish flags next to the EU flag. Photo: Janerik Henriksson/TT

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Stockholm – Before the summer, the EU regulation for critical metals and minerals, the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), came into force as law in Sweden. The purpose is to reduce the EU’s dependence on critical raw materials – such as lithium and cobalt – from other parts of the world.

However, from the industry’s side, there is skepticism that it is possible to live up to the ambition of increasing extraction. The new regulation does not align with the EU’s water directive, where it is believed that Sweden has interpreted the rules far too narrowly.

The dilemma for the industry concerns the limit value for uranium. Uranium occurs naturally in the bedrock in Sweden and can accompany when extracting minerals or needing to pump up water in connection with mining work.

Each EU member country is allowed to determine its own limit value for uranium, a so-called target concentration for uranium in surface water, and according to the industry, in Sweden, it is set far too low.

The concern has now led the Geological Survey of Sweden to send a letter to the government. According to the agency, it is important to ensure that the levels set are truly well-justified – and possible to reach. They want to highlight the goal conflict that arises.

SGU is the Swedish authority tasked with providing geological information for society’s needs in the short and long term.

(October 28)

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