cosors
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There is still some back and forth with Kallak.
But as some have already suspected, this verdict could be landmark. There are many articles and we need not care much about that I think.
However, one is more concrete about what could be applied to us as well. The environmental permit had always taken so long because the interests were played one-sided. This article now indicates that requirements that could not be properly implemented in the environmental permit are now, according to a new interpretation in the Kallak case, simply included in the processing concession that was originally intended for this purpose. And the concession is granted by an authority and not by a court, that seems to me an important difference!
This seems like a gallant move to me! If I understand this correctly, the concession will be more important when it comes to balancing interests. That's a first indication that makes me really confident that this government IS actually changing something that is useful for us.
Let them do the same for us! The granting of the concession takes roughly two years. That would fit. Maybe it makes sense for them first to see how the processing concession for Kallak goes through. Then the same concept could be applied to us. Simply put all the essential demands of Sami into the concession and the wind is out of the sails and facts are created. There would be enough time for extensive groundwater measurements and in parallel the project could already be pushed forward ; )
The pressure with the big permit would be greatly reduced. I underplayed the concession thing initially because I didn't understand the minister's new tactic. The government or the minister seems to be changing the process. This seems to me not only clever but also forward-looking, and for us I can only make out advantages so far. But maybe we could look at this together from different directions.
This would mean that the important conflicts of interest would be negotiated and decided much (much) earlier. At least that's how I interpret it.
In another article I read that this is done so that such a case never again ends up on the table of the government but can be decided by the authorities and the courts themselves. Before that, it also makes sense that the district administrator was fired because of his bias and one-sidedness. Now they would have to consider all aspects. But I don't want to read too much into it.
"The Government's Kallak requirements may change the practice for mining permits
That companies must set aside money for the restoration of land after mining is a legal requirement. But the government's specific requirement for land to be restored in consultation with Sami villages in order to be used for reindeer husbandry is unusual and may create a practice in the industry. That's what Maria Pettersson, professor of law at LTU, says.Published: March 28, 2022, 9:30 p.m.
A prerequisite is that the company complies with a number of conditions set by the government, which are intended to counteract disturbances to reindeer husbandry. Photo: Paul Wennerholm / TT
After a nine-year wait, the government announced last week that the company Jokkmokk Iron Mines, which is owned by British Beowulf Mining, will be given the go-ahead to proceed with its permit application for an iron ore mine in Kallak. A prerequisite is that the company complies with a number of conditions set by the government, which are intended to counteract disturbances to reindeer husbandry.
That the land after a mining establishment must be treated by the operator is a requirement under Swedish law.
But specifying the condition of post-treatment in connection with the concession and in relation to the Sami villages is unusual, according to Maria Pettersson, professor of law at LTU
"This is the condition that appears to be the most difficult to implement. At the same time, no time aspect is specified. The only concrete requirement is that a plan must be drawn up, ”she says.
When the Minerals Act was created, the idea was that concession permits would be granted with a number of conditions, but in practice they have nevertheless been granted without such. The government's announcement about Kallak may change that.
"Yes, I absolutely believe so. The conditions regarding land use, such as taking up as little land as possible and avoiding the impact on relocation routes as much as possible, such requirements are difficult to set in the environmental assessment. "
The concept of "restoring" land after a mine establishment is not uncontroversial. The authority SGU itself states that the land "can never be completely restored to its original condition."
Tove Hägglund, an expert in ecological finishing at the consulting company Ecogain, which, among other things, helped LKAB and Boliden to establish ecosystems after previous mining, agrees.
“The word restore is tricky in this context, as it is often completely impossible to restore to what it once was. But you can recreate ecosystem functions that have similar or other desirable properties in the landscape in which the mine is located, ”she says.
How long it takes before the area can be considered restored depends both on the conditions on site and on the type of environment that is sought. According to Tove Hägglund, it is possible to accelerate re-establishment to some extent by saving the soil or moving parts of the land with vegetation from nearby areas.
“You can go further than we have done before by working smart. But in order to bring in a great diversity of species, you need to trust the natural succession. ”
Beowulf Mining's CEO, Kurt Budge, says that the government's demands were expected and is in line with what the company voluntarily strives for. He does not agree that it will be unexpectedly expensive or difficult to meet the requirements.
“No, we are used to hard work. The mining industry is challenging to operate in for many different reasons, so there is nothing I am surprised about in the government's decision. I think it is a good decision and one we can work towards. ”
How long the recovery can take, however, is difficult to answer, according to the CEO. Since the application was submitted, the company has discovered additional deposits, which makes the issue of finishing more remote.
"I do not even want to guess. You create anxiety where there should be none. The positive thing is that the company has finally received a permit and can start developing a project that involves hundreds of jobs in Jokkmokk. ”
How difficult will it be to restore the area?
"This will not be a problem. We have been active in the industry for over 30 years. Some of the projects I have worked on in the UK are now nature reserves, we are fully capable of caring for the land afterwards. ”"
https://www.di.se/hallbart-naringsliv/regeringens-kallak-krav-kan-andra-praxis-for-gruvtillstand/
What do you think?!
Side note: I live in an area that has been almost completely dug up. The old mines are now the most popular nature reserves and recreation areas.
