RE: Oh you're welcome15 Apr 2023 15:30
Translated via Google:
Headline: “The moderates promised 9 billion for the Inlandsbanan - mining companies demand answers”
Main text: “ Before the parliamentary election, the Moderates promised nine billion kroner to upgrade the Inlandsbanan, since then it has been quiet. Now Jokkmokk Iron demands answers on how to transport the ore out of the disputed mining project in Kallak.
- It's getting to be a rush for us, says Ulla Sandborgh, CEO of Jokkmokk iron.
Jokkmokk Iron is in full swing with its application to the Land and Environment Court to be allowed to open an iron ore mine in the disputed area of Kallak, in Sami Gallók, about four miles outside of Jokkmokk. To ship the ore out, the company sees the Inlandsbanan railway line, which passes through Jokkmokk, as a solution.
But in order to be able to transport the ore on the Inlandsbanan, upgrading is required, something that has not happened, according to Jokkmokk Irons CEO Ulla Sandborgh.
- More must happen from Inlandsbanan's side. We wish they told us what the plans look like. We are getting into a hurry and we don't want to risk a delay because of this.
The Inlandsbanan is the company's main plan for transporting the ore to the Malmbanan, to get from there to the ports of Luleå and Narvik.
- It is clear that we are concerned. We need the Inlandsbanan to get out onto the ore line, and there are many companies that move in the region that need transport via rail.
The management of the Inlandsbanan has been working for five years trying to get the section between Mora and Gällivare upgraded. In 2018, a calculation was made that showed it would cost 9 billion, but that is no longer true.
- It is 2023 now and everyone knows that inflation has affected prices. We will make a revision of the calculation because it will be more expensive than 9 billion, says Otto Nilsson, CEO of Inlandsbanan.
How big are the cost increases?
- I do not know. I dare not comment on that. But you only have to go to the store and buy a pack of Bregott and you understand that quite a lot has happened, he says.
Before the Riksdag election last fall, the Moderates promised that the state would lend the nine billion that was then required to equip the Inlandsbanan. A year later, it is dead quiet about the financing of the refurbishment.
In February this year, Otto Nilsson had a meeting with representatives of the Moderates.
- Of course I didn't expect them to say "now it's done, we'll send the money". But they are working on that issue and anchoring it with their partners in the government, that sounded very positive.
Today, it is possible to run freight traffic on the Inlandsbanan on an extremely limited scale. To handle Jokkmokk Iron's heavy ore transports, the railway needs to handle 22.5 tons.
- Between Arvidsjaur and Gällivare we only have a carrying capacity of 20 tons. You may think that 2.5 tons is not much, but it actually makes up 20 percent of what you can load, explains Otto Nils
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