PERMITS

[Diogenese]

Detailed plan (development plan)
Now our cause is listed on the page of the Riksdag (government). We have put a question to the government and they jet have answered. First our question again, then the answer:

"The question has been submitted
Events
Submitted: 2024-09-03
Surrendered: 2024-09-04
Reported: 2024-09-05
Response date: 2024-09-11
Last date of reply: 2024-09-11
Answered: 2024-09-11

Written question 2023/24:1100 by Isak From (S)

Talga's letter to the government​

https://data.riksdagen.se/fil/F1F0BF3F-5265-4DF6-B6DB-2A9851E4C7BC

to Minister of Energy and Industry Ebba Busch (KD)

The mining company Talga has submitted a request to the government for a planning order because the municipality of Kiruna is delaying granting a detailed plan for the graphite mine in Vittangi.
Talga wants to mine graphite, which is an important strategic raw material used to manufacture anodes for lithium-ion batteries. The mining company is now also building the first facility for graphite anode material for batteries in Luleå.
The mining company emphasizes that it is their ambition to extract 16.2 percent of the EU's demand for natural graphite by the year 2030. They must also produce just over 10 percent of the EU's demand for anode material from natural graphite during the same time period. The mining company also believes that Europe's self-sufficiency in the critical raw material for batteries depends on this mine.
Kiruna municipality, for its part, emphasizes that the burden on the municipality is great as a result of the housing shortage and weak municipal finances, not least as a result of Kiruna's city move and other large investments in the municipality.
Kiruna believes that there will only be costs and that no new money will come if the municipality now invests work and money in carrying out a planning procedure for the planned mine in Vittangi.
Another reason for Kiruna municipality's resistance is that the tax that the municipality can levy is a flat tax. Unlike the state tax, which is higher for high income earners, all municipal residents must pay the same amount of kroner per hundred in municipal tax, regardless of how much they earn. But that is not the only problem. Many of those who work in the mine do not pay income tax at all, because they have become an increasingly large group that works according to fly in, fly out, and thus not a single tax kroner comes to the municipality.
The mining company has come a long way in the permit process, but now lacks the necessary up-to-date detailed plan.
A secure and sustainable supply of minerals and metals is necessary to enable green social construction, strengthen competitiveness, electrify Sweden and strengthen Swedish defense capabilities. More mines are needed to reduce Sweden's and the EU's dependence on raw materials from third countries. At the same time, acceptance is needed for mines, not least from the mining municipalities and the local population, who are now, for good reason, tired of not getting anything in return.
My question to Minister of Energy and Food Ebba Busch is:

Do the minister and the government intend to take any initiatives regarding Talga's letter to the government?

Answer to written question 2023/24:1100 answered by Prime Minister Andreas Carlson (KD)​

Answer to question 2023/24:1100 Talga's letter to the government​

to Minister of Energy and Industry Ebba Busch (KD)

Answer to question 2023/24:1100 by Isak From (S)
Talga's letter to the government
Isak From has asked the Minister of Energy and Industry if she and the government intend to take any initiatives in connection with Talga's letter to the government.
The work within the government is so divided that it is I who will answer the question.
Talga AB has submitted a letter stating that the government, with the support of ch. 11 Section 15 of the Planning and Building Act (2010:900) must order Kiruna municipality to adopt a new detailed plan through a so-called planning order to enable the mining of graphite, which is a strategic raw material used for the manufacture of anodes for lithium-ion batteries.

The government shares Talga AB's and Isak From's attitude that the establishment of new mines - not least those that can contribute to the green transition and strengthen Sweden's competitiveness - is an important issue for Sweden's economy as well as for the environment.
Talga AB's letter on planning injunction is currently being prepared within the Government Office.
Stockholm on 11 September 2024



Andreas Carlson"

Talgas skrivelse till regeringen (Skriftlig fråga 2023/24:1100 av Isak From (S))

www.riksdagen.se

It's nice that the Swedish government shares Talga's view. Now let the words be followed by deeds. It's all about practical implementation. Without the plan, no start of construction, one way or another.

Swedish environmental court -

https://au.images.search.yahoo.com/...al-celebrations-CX301523_low.jpg&action=click

 

[Semmel]

ShortMan - Short position graph for TLG

Short position graph and statistics for TLG

www.shortman.com.au

I don't recall it at .14% (607,840 shares) for a looooooooong time

Damn, still more shares short than I got

Must be the effect of leaving asx300 index. Suddenly no one left to lend out shares.

 

[Semmel]

Posted by acwbagnall on HC:

I received a response from the SC last night :

"The case is yet to be referred to a Justice and at this time the Supreme Court cannot indicate when a decision will be made.
No hearing is scheduled in this case"

 

[cosors]

Posted by acwbagnall on HC:

Haven't we already known this from Vigdorian since 6 September? The case has been transferred. Then later came the info that collective illness was the reason.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Semmel]

Haven't we already known this from Vigdorian since 6 September? The case has been transferred. Then later came the info that collective illness was the reason.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.

As the info came yesterday, it means there was no progress since

 

[JNRB]

As the info came yesterday, it means there was no progress since

unbelieveable

 

[brewm0re]

unbelieveable

Un…f***ing…believable

 

[JoMo68]

F**king unf**king believable

 

[cosors]

"Done: Talga gets permission for mining
Talga has received the nod from Kiruna municipality to make the graphite mine in Kiruna a reality. On Thursday, however, a decision was brought with it - namely the exclusive right to mining in the area.

2024-10-17 12:58

The notice thus gives Talga the exclusive right to mine the graphite deposit called Nunasvaara Södra K no. 1 outside Vittangi. The company has previously applied for an environmental permit and received the go-ahead from the Land and Environment Court on April 5, 2023. The decision was appealed all the way to the Supreme Court and the permit has not yet gained legal force. Kiruna municipality does not want to give either..." rbPW

Klart: Talga får tillstånd för gruvbrytning

Talga har fått nobben av Kiruna kommun för att göra verklighet av grafitgruvan i Kiruna. I torsdags fick gruvbolaget dock ett beslut med sig – nämligen...

www.nsd.se

 

[cosors]

The last pending permit!

"Talga gets green light for yet another mining deposit​

LULEÅ. The Mining Inspectorate grants the mining company Talga a mining concession for another graphite deposit in Vittangi.
At the same time, Vilhelmina Minerals' plans for a restart of the Stekenjokk mine in the Västerbotten mountains will be rejected.
Published: 17 October 2024, 16:06

On Wednesday, the Mining Inspectorate announced decisions in three cases concerning mining concessions for mining deposits.

A mining concession gives a mining company the right to the deposit, but not to start mining. An environmental permit is also required for this.

The Australian mining company Talga has since last year an environmental permit to mine graphite in Vittangi in Kiruna municipality. The decision has been appealed and therefore the start of production for the mine is delayed. The company is also building a factory in Luleå that will take care of the graphite that is mined in Vittangi.

Now the Mining Inspectorate has granted Talga a mining concession for another (?) graphite deposit in the same area. Graphite is an important raw material in electric car batteries.

"This is a high-quality graphite deposit and the applicant's tests have shown that it can be processed into materials for the production of lithium-ion batteries. The area is considered to contain a large mineral resource. The concession means good management of resources by enabling the extraction of a deposit of national interest," says Chief Mining Officer Helena Kjellson in a statement.

At the same time, Vilhemina Mineral is turned down to restart the copper mine in Stekenjokk, which was run by Boliden during the 1970s and 1980s. The mining master writes that the company has not been able to show that a mine in Stekenjokk is profitable.

However, the company is granted a mining concession for another deposit in the area, Levi, where there is copper, silver, zinc and lead."

Talga får grönt ljus för ännu en gruvfyndighet

LULEÅ. Bergsstaten beviljar gruvbolaget Talga bearbetningskoncession för en grafitfyndighet i Vittangi.Samtidigt blir det nej för Vilhelmina Minerals planer på en återstart av Stekenjokk-gruvan i Västerbottensfjällen.

www.di.se

One important hurdle less.
I remind that we had submitted the application for the processing concession (one of the three permits) and the environmental permit at the same time. Then it was on hold for a while because of the then still outstanding Natura2000, which was granted later. Then, in my memory, the board commented that everything depends on the SC's decision. It seems to me that this is not the case and that Talga has now been granted this concession in parallel, see in bold in the next post. The process has been changed and the Natura2000 is now independent from, in our case, the SC decision.

That's the concession!!
bearbetningskoncession => Bergsstaten

Talga now has all the necessary permits and just has to wait for the plan and the SC decision. Then the head of Bergsstaten can ram the spade into the ground for the opening ceremony!

 

[cosors]

Thanks Gvan and Semmel!

Omstridd gruva utanför Vittangi får ja från Bergstaten

Bergstaten säger nu ja till att bevilja Talga AB bearbetningskoncession för grafitfyndigheten Nunasvaara utanför Vittangi i Kiruna kommun. – Fyndigheten har riksintresse, säger bergmästare Helena Kjellson.

www.svt.se

Translation:
Yes to graphite mine outside Vittangi
Updated today 12:36Published today 12:03
The mountain state now says yes to the grant Talga AB processing concession for the graphite discovery Nunasvaara outside Vittangi in Kiruna municipality.
"The congregation has national interest," said Bergmästare Helena Kjellson.
The area is part of Talga AB’s major graphite project, which includes four deposits. The current deposit is in an area that is designated as national interest for valuable substances or materials.
'Great mineral access'
“This is a high-quality graphite discovery and the applicant’s tests have shown that it can be processed into materials for the production of lithium-ion batteries. The area is judged to contain a large mineral resource, says Helena Kjellson.

There has been a lot of opposition to the plans for a graphite mine, including from residents in the area.
An amendment to the Minerals Act, which took effect on 1 July 2024, has enabled the mountain master to grant a processing concession even though the issue of Natura 2000 permit is not finally settled.
'Good housekeeping'
“The concession means good management of resources by enabling the extraction of a deposit of national interest,” says Bergmästare Helena Kjellson.
Talga AB submitted its application to the Mountain State in 2020.
“A further authority now confirms the validity and importance of this project, incidentally at a time where the need for its own supply of graphite in the EU is becoming increasingly tangible,” said Martin Phillips, CEO of Talgas.

 

[cosors]

Thanks Gvan and Semmel!

Omstridd gruva utanför Vittangi får ja från Bergstaten

Bergstaten säger nu ja till att bevilja Talga AB bearbetningskoncession för grafitfyndigheten Nunasvaara utanför Vittangi i Kiruna kommun. – Fyndigheten har riksintresse, säger bergmästare Helena Kjellson.

www.svt.se

Translation:
Yes to graphite mine outside Vittangi
Updated today 12:36Published today 12:03
The mountain state now says yes to the grant Talga AB processing concession for the graphite discovery Nunasvaara outside Vittangi in Kiruna municipality.
"The congregation has national interest," said Bergmästare Helena Kjellson.
The area is part of Talga AB’s major graphite project, which includes four deposits. The current deposit is in an area that is designated as national interest for valuable substances or materials.
'Great mineral access'
“This is a high-quality graphite discovery and the applicant’s tests have shown that it can be processed into materials for the production of lithium-ion batteries. The area is judged to contain a large mineral resource, says Helena Kjellson.

There has been a lot of opposition to the plans for a graphite mine, including from residents in the area.
An amendment to the Minerals Act, which took effect on 1 July 2024, has enabled the mountain master to grant a processing concession even though the issue of Natura 2000 permit is not finally settled.
'Good housekeeping'
“The concession means good management of resources by enabling the extraction of a deposit of national interest,” says Bergmästare Helena Kjellson.
Talga AB submitted its application to the Mountain State in 2020.
“A further authority now confirms the validity and importance of this project, incidentally at a time where the need for its own supply of graphite in the EU is becoming increasingly tangible,” said Martin Phillips, CEO of Talgas.

Here a bad joke:

"If this is the case, the next step is to apply for a processing concession. You must then prove to the miner that the deposit exists and can be mined profitably.

The application must also be accompanied by an environmental impact statement. The extraction must not be unreasonable in terms of nature conservation or reindeer husbandry, for example.

If you have got this far, it is time to apply for an environmental licence from the Land and Environment Court. If you are granted a licence, it will be subject to conditions as to how much noise, dust and other environmental impact it may cause.

Source: SGU"

They should update this as a matter of urgency.
If Talga had followed their advice and not submitted it at the same time, we could expect a valid environmental permit from 2028 on. Really bad advice or a bad joke.

 

[JNRB]

I know we're all assuming that EU / Sweden will get their shit together and futures permit applications will actually be processed to the point of enactment within a reasonable time....

But is the company actually relying on that?

And if not, then based on our current experience (ie that even just deciding whether an appeal is reasonable can take an entire fucking year), what is the prudent timeline to start applying for permits for expansion? And where is the company in that process / how does it fit in current timelines?

Don't expect anyone here has the answers, but just something I've started thinking about and might email the company on.

If we're potentially still looking at timelines that are 4-5 years, then even scaled-up production for 2030 means we need to start getting moving on that shit now-ish. Not so much of a problem if EU/Sweden does get their shit together, but I for one have lost a lot of faith in both those institutions.

 

[teilenswert]

I know we're all assuming that EU / Sweden will get their shit together and futures permit applications will actually be processed to the point of enactment within a reasonable time....

But is the company actually relying on that?

And if not, then based on our current experience (ie that even just deciding whether an appeal is reasonable can take an entire fucking year), what is the prudent timeline to start applying for permits for expansion? And where is the company in that process / how does it fit in current timelines?

Don't expect anyone here has the answers, but just something I've started thinking about and might email the company on.

If we're potentially still looking at timelines that are 4-5 years, then even scaled-up production for 2030 means we need to start getting moving on that shit now-ish. Not so much of a problem if EU/Sweden does get their shit together, but I for one have lost a lot of faith in both those institutions.

I submitted the following question for the last webinar: ‘What other permits have already been initiated/obtained to initiate the expansion of production? Is it still realistic to reach production by 2030?’

Mark touched on this on the 51 minute mark:


Alex put the question to Mark in the webinar as follows:

Speaking of um expansions what other permits have been initiated or obtained to initiate the expansion of production?

Mark's answer:

We've got an exploitation permit application in for Niska that's outstanding that's been in for a while now. The mines department ... the rules changed but previously you used to get a mining lease first then you put in your environmental later then it got changed - you had to put environmental in first before you get mining which is what we're in now and now it's changed back again. So uh we've had that exploitation permit in for Niska we've got various permits underway everything from power lines to various roads and other infrastructure logistical things you need around it. Again down at the refinery you've got things like transport of chemicals things like that a whole bunch of different permits have been gained already for different parts of the business at different parts of the time. But that's what's existing currently on the on the mining scenario up there.

In fact, I would also have liked to know what further permits are needed that are still being examined by the authorities or, if necessary, have not yet been applied for - but I obviously omitted to ask for them explicitly.

I would assume that Nunasvaara South (in November/December) and Niska (at the same time or in the following round) will be defined as strategic projects and will benefit from preferential treatment, which will hopefully significantly shorten the permit process. However, based on the experience of recent years, I am sure that there will still be unexpected delays and hiccups in the future. The bureaucratic requirements are becoming more complex and extensive from year to year, and even if states double the size of their bureaucracies and partially automate processes using AI, it will be difficult to keep pace.

Mark had mentioned that so far there have only been considerations and studies that an underground mine COULD be established and thus accelerate the extraction of graphite and reduce the impact on the (above-ground) environment - that sounded like purely theoretical considerations, so I can't imagine that (all) the necessary permits have already been applied for.

The following target was defined in the objectives for the CRMA:

For Strategic Projects in the EU, the duration of the permit granting process should not exceed 27 months projects involving extraction and should not exceed 15 months for Strategic Projects involving only processing or recycling.

Let us assume that it takes 12-18 months for the EU directive to be transposed into national law and for Talga to submit all the necessary permits for an underground mine, and the officials then utilise the full 27 months, then we will already be in spring 2028. After that, we can only start building the mine (I don't have a clue how long this may take), and at the same time we also have to build new anode factories or expand the existing ones, finalise the financing, etc. - so we're already heading towards 2030. And then there are the occasional political or economic hotspots on a global scale that can become a stumbling block. So I am prepared that we need to have a lot of stamina! But of course there is also a bull case with much faster progress, that looks much more pleasing. Mark regularly tends to outline the more optimistic scenarios in the webinars, so no need to mention those aspects in detail I guess.

 

[mpk1980]

I submitted the following question for the last webinar: ‘What other permits have already been initiated/obtained to initiate the expansion of production? Is it still realistic to reach production by 2030?’

Mark touched on this on the 51 minute mark:


Alex put the question to Mark in the webinar as follows:


Mark's answer:


In fact, I would also have liked to know what further permits are needed that are still being examined by the authorities or, if necessary, have not yet been applied for - but I obviously omitted to ask for them explicitly.

I would assume that Nunasvaara South (in November/December) and Niska (at the same time or in the following round) will be defined as strategic projects and will benefit from preferential treatment, which will hopefully significantly shorten the permit process. However, based on the experience of recent years, I am sure that there will still be unexpected delays and hiccups in the future. The bureaucratic requirements are becoming more complex and extensive from year to year, and even if states double the size of their bureaucracies and partially automate processes using AI, it will be difficult to keep pace.

Mark had mentioned that so far there have only been considerations and studies that an underground mine COULD be established and thus accelerate the extraction of graphite and reduce the impact on the (above-ground) environment - that sounded like purely theoretical considerations, so I can't imagine that (all) the necessary permits have already been applied for.

The following target was defined in the objectives for the CRMA:


Let us assume that it takes 12-18 months for the EU directive to be transposed into national law and for Talga to submit all the necessary permits for an underground mine, and the officials then utilise the full 27 months, then we will already be in spring 2028. After that, we can only start building the mine (I don't have a clue how long this may take), and at the same time we also have to build new anode factories or expand the existing ones, finalise the financing, etc. - so we're already heading towards 2030. And then there are the occasional political or economic hotspots on a global scale that can become a stumbling block. So I am prepared that we need to have a lot of stamina! But of course there is also a bull case with much faster progress, that looks much more pleasing. Mark regularly tends to outline the more optimistic scenarios in the webinars, so no need to mention those aspects in detail I guess.

@teilenswert This has been something i have been concerned about and pondering too.

TLG made the following announcement on 01/09/21 in regards to submitting exploitation concessions for rest of the deposits. You'd have to think these submissions would be to drill underground given it was talked about and considered prior to this.

Like you say alot of things are still in motion and unknow (i.e.. CRMA and pro-mining law changes by the govt) so once the environmental permit appeal is settled i am hopeful management is able better explain how they plan to proceed. I'm hoping the CRMA and Swedish's acceleration office together will help expedite the permitting process. TLG is probably somewhat hamstrung in what they could say with what's going on?

 

[curiousmagpie]

Talga can’t carry the momentum of good news to a second trading day even when all of the other graphite stocks are up.

Price action tells a story here. What’s going on?

 

[JNRB]

Thanks @teilenswert and @mpk1980 for the top-notch responses! Good start for me to understanding this.

I'm still a little concerned on the whole, as the current applications from what I can tell pertain to our 100ktpa plans. I really want to know what the timelines are for the 800ktpa plans. Yes I know that's still just a possibility, but to know if it's a viable possibility we need to have some understanding of the timelines involved and when we would need to start taking concrete steps towards making it a reality.

I also still have some unknown regarding the strategic projects designation. Will the reduced approval timeline be applied to applications already in progress? ie force them to be accelerated through the system? And will it be clearly mandated that the TIMELINE is THE TOTAL TIME IT TAKES FOR THE APPROVAL TO COME INTO FORCE and that any circus judiciaries like Sweden need to allow them to be enforced until an appeal proves otherwise, not the backwards situation we have now.

I'm sure there's people advocating for both of these things, and not just from Talga. So fingers crossed.

I've always seen 19ktpa as just a tiny stepping stone on the way to something much MUCH bigger. It took a long time for the company to even publicly acknowledge the options there (although some of the broker reports did). I understand we need to get the current shit sorted out first but it will be good to see the plans for the real shebang becoming more concrete over the coming year or 2.

 

[Semmel]

Too many people don't believe in the story any more I guess.

Also, nothing changed. The hold up is the SC and the detailed plan to a lesser extent. Not the processing concession. So in terms of progress, there is none, even though it was a necessary step.

The SC and Sweden in general have killed the talga story. Who knows whether we have the contracts still lined up as Mark said more than a year ago? Who knows whether we will need to give company equity to finance the project in the end? Mark said it's going to be project equity, but things can change in such a long timeframe. I don't subscribe to the negativity completely and completely and I think it's going to be good eventually but I don't know when. The story unfolded much much slower than I anticipated too, and that's not down ramping, it's a fact.

Talga is being crushed by forces outside of their control. If anything, Talga should have build the Talnode-Si line independently of Vittangi, but it appears it too, depends on the mine. That's my only gripe with decision making on Talgas behalf. They are on the way to that with the recycled graphite, but that's a long way away. And I think the DFS numbers of profitability were true then but are not true any more. It's going to be much lower. But there will be profits.

That is my take on the price action. I still think talga is a good company and whenever there is money left over in my pockets, I buy a bit more. But I have no illusion that it's going to be as rosy as once thought. For now, we waste week after week, waiting for that damn court to make a decision. The price will meaningfully move after off takes are signed and financing is secure. SC decision will give us a permanent bump but will not rocket us very high.

And make no mistake, we will be in the same process for the expansion. The prioritisation by the EU law will not make this much faster, as the appeals will start coming again and the SC does not see it self being subjective to this kind of pressure, as we have seen in the past. I sincerely hope I am wrong on this one, but I can't help it but I lost complete faith in the system.

To end on a positive note, I have more shares than ever thx to the low share price. It's both frustrating and an opportunity.

 

[Futurer]

Too many people don't believe in the story any more I guess.

Also, nothing changed. The hold up is the SC and the detailed plan to a lesser extent. Not the processing concession. So in terms of progress, there is none, even though it was a necessary step.

The SC and Sweden in general have killed the talga story. Who knows whether we have the contracts still lined up as Mark said more than a year ago? Who knows whether we will need to give company equity to finance the project in the end? Mark said it's going to be project equity, but things can change in such a long timeframe. I don't subscribe to the negativity completely and completely and I think it's going to be good eventually but I don't know when. The story unfolded much much slower than I anticipated too, and that's not down ramping, it's a fact.

Talga is being crushed by forces outside of their control. If anything, Talga should have build the Talnode-Si line independently of Vittangi, but it appears it too, depends on the mine. That's my only gripe with decision making on Talgas behalf. They are on the way to that with the recycled graphite, but that's a long way away. And I think the DFS numbers of profitability were true then but are not true any more. It's going to be much lower. But there will be profits.

That is my take on the price action. I still think talga is a good company and whenever there is money left over in my pockets, I buy a bit more. But I have no illusion that it's going to be as rosy as once thought. For now, we waste week after week, waiting for that damn court to make a decision. The price will meaningfully move after off takes are signed and financing is secure. SC decision will give us a permanent bump but will not rocket us very high.

And make no mistake, we will be in the same process for the expansion. The prioritisation by the EU law will not make this much faster, as the appeals will start coming again and the SC does not see it self being subjective to this kind of pressure, as we have seen in the past. I sincerely hope I am wrong on this one, but I can't help it but I lost complete faith in the system.

To end on a positive note, I have more shares than ever thx to the low share price. It's both frustrating and an opportunity.

I feel like some of your points are valid but others are not. I think that geopolitics are more favourable now than before. I also think that there is more value attached to being green than before. Last but not least, the CRMA should deal with lengthy court processes, hopefully.

 

[cosors]

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