In late July of this year, the Swedish government recognized the extraction of critical metals and rare earth elements as a matter of national security. It stated that a new mining strategy is needed to counteract dependence on China. The government’s position was further elaborated by Ebba Busch, Minister for Enterprise and Deputy Prime Minister, who said that classifying mining as a matter of national security will expedite the planning and permitting processes, thereby helping to realize planned investments. She is convinced that this can significantly contribute to strengthening the defense capabilities of Sweden, the EU, and NATO.
The implementation of these provisions is to be served by a new strategy designed to make it easier for the state to allocate land for mining projects – an issue that is tense with the indigenous Sami people, who practice reindeer herding. They argue that the expansion of mining would mean the end of their traditional way of life. As part of this strategy, the government is analyzing the possibility of establishing a state-owned investment company for the Swedish mining sector.
On this occasion, media reporting on this decision recall that Sweden possesses large mineral resources, and the Per Geijer deposit, located near the existing LKAB mine in Kiruna, is one of the European Union’s flagship projects, aimed at reducing dependence on China. This deposit, with total mineral resources of 1.2 billion tonnes, is of key importance for Europe’s interests. The Swedish government’s statement was published in Western media and was well received in the United States, which pursues a similar resource-based economy.
A long history
From a Polish perspective, the history of Swedish mining is little known, although the development of this industry already in the early modern period made Sweden a power that became well known in Poland under the name of the „Swedish Deluge.” Superbly armed and equipped with all kinds of domestically produced firearms, it easily defeated the agricultural power that was the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth at that time.
Similarly, later struggles with Tsar Peter I nearly led to a similar conquest of Russia. On this occasion, it is worth recalling that the oldest mining company was Stora Kopparberg, which operated the Falun copper mine. It is also from there that the Falu red pigment originates, used to paint castles, churches, and cottages, still visible throughout Sweden. The revenues from this mine were so large that they financed almost all the wars fought by Sweden throughout its history.
Swedish science
The subsequent King of Poland, Jan III Sobieski, was well aware of the Swedes’ technological military superiority. When setting out for Vienna, he had to arm and equip his army, for which funds were provided by the Olkusz silver and lead mines. The Ponikowska Adit, built during his reign at the lowest point of the terrain and still operational today, significantly lowered the groundwater table, enabling miners to exploit rich silver and lead deposits. The point is not to return to historical times, but to realize that it is better to have prepared mineral wealth ready to be tapped in crisis situations, the arrival of which we cannot predict. Today, following the Swedish example is also advisable, as the international situation is becoming similarly critical.
About 60 percent of Europe’s iron ore deposits are located in Sweden, and the country accounts for 90 percent of its extraction on the continent, possessing 5 percent of the world’s resources. It is also one of the most mining-active countries in Europe. Swedish mines extracted approximately 80 million tonnes of ore annually, mainly from the Kiruna mine, which produces about 27.5 million tonnes of iron. Over 96 percent of the total ore production comes from mines in the northern region known as Norrland. Ten of the 12 active mines in the country are located in the Sápmi region (historically „Lapland”), the traditional territory of the Sami people.
