Member Info for Pocko

It’s not just about the domestic market. Beowulf Mining have demonstrated that the Kallak deposit is economically viable. I hear that China is quite a large importer of iron ore these days. Lkab announcements are simply smoke and mirrors...

And maybe you’re an agent provocateur? My cynicism allows such musings too. Isn’t your whippet due a walk? Lol!

And in a nutshell...

“But to reach its new strategy’s goals, the miner said “rapid solutions must be found for various complex issues” – including permits, energy requirements and better conditions for research...”

Big headlines and nothing more... Net zero carbon emissions by 2045? 24-years away. How much do Lkab currently invest on an annual basis? Businesses continually invest... Makes for great headlines, but it’s a lot of hot air...

"The Minister suggested that, in the coming weeks, he would present findings of reviews undertaken to develop more robust legislation. He wants Sweden to be the role model for sustainability. The Swedish mining sector will be anticipating his words.”

If only they’d use the laws already in existence. That might help?

https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-lagar/dokument/skriftlig-fraga/sveriges-placering-i-den-globala-gruvrankningen_H8111970

Lars Hjälmered (M)

At the end of February, the Fraser Institute released the annual mining ranking Annual Survey of Mining Companies 2020. Sweden plunges into the global mining list. In 2016, Sweden was in place 8 and now four years later Sweden lands in place 36. Sweden gets an increasingly mediocre place and ends up after countries such as Russia, Mali and Ghana.

That Sweden is now sinking is no coincidence. There are well-known problems with long processing times and frequent and recurring views on how different authorities act.

It is also important to note that the Minister of Trade and Industry has been convicted by the constitutional committee, KU, for his and the government's handling of the application for an imaginary iron ore mine in Kallak in Jokkmokk municipality. Among other things, KU was able to state that the government had not done any visible activities to bring the matter to a decision.

Another notable case concerns Boliden's application for an alleged mining of copper in Laver in Älvsbyn municipality. Late, the day before Christmas Eve last year, the government snuck out its decision that Boliden had been waiting for for several years.

The Minister of Trade and Industry's handling of the Kallak and Laver cases has unfortunately seriously harmed Sweden. The handling has repeatedly been highlighted as a deterrent.

The result of the government's mining policy can now be seen in the mining ranking. It has consequences. The mining and minerals industry is completely dependent on a welcoming attitude, fast handling and long-term perspective. Good opportunities for mining are also crucial to get materials needed in the green transition in everything from batteries to renewable energy. Sweden is now clearly going in the wrong direction.

In view of the above, I would like to ask Minister of Trade and Industry Ibrahim Baylan:



What measures will the Minister take as a result of Sweden plunging into the annual international mining ranking?

And to be clear, I actually think that the end-game is upon us one way or another.

And why would Lövfen not be happy aug59?

He’s been PM since 2014, and as the electorate generally have a dislike for politicians, but clearly have even more apathy towards politics, he (Löfven) and his ilk are likely to be in some form of coalition come September 2022. So little will change... Baylan has, and will be acting upon instruction from the PM. The only party playing outside of this political playbook is Beowulf Mining PLC who have defied all odds and stayed in the game, despite ironically, playing by ‘the rule of law.’

It could be argued that Baylan has delivered... A process that should take 6-9 months has to date taken just short of 8-years. I’d be quite satisfied as an objector. Untold economic carnage caused to the applicant... no end in sight. What’s not to like?

At the end of the day, we are splitting hairs and losing sight of what counts. And a politicians performance or agenda shouldn’t be an issue.

The only irrefutable fact is that Jokkmokk Mines AB do not have an exploitation licence for Kallak... yet!

If the intention is to delay the application, then Baylan and his predecessors have been successful - However, their agenda is not clear. Politicians never pay the price, even at the ballot box. High profile ministers simply bounce from the public to the private sectors. I doubt very much that Baylan loses sleep over this to be perfectly honest...

Yes... those well run countries known for their democratic processes. Say what you like about Putin, but we’d have had our mine in 6-months lol!

A very critical piece... well worth fully translating and reading...

And a little more...

How does it feel to know that you could have been up and running for several years if you had received the permit that Bergsstaten gave ok to five years ago?

- If I look back I get very angry so I have to look forward. But now it's enough! It is not possible to first open up for foreign companies and investors to come here and create economic activity and jobs, and then delay it by not making decisions.

Do not give up
But he still does not give up. After the constitutional committee criticized the government in November for not having done anything with Beowulf's three-year application, he hopes a decision is imminent.

- When I think of what is really my job, not the politics around, I am very excited. In Sweden, there is everything to build a successful, sustainable mining project - renewable electricity, a long mining tradition, a high level of competence and innovation in mining and the production of fossil-free steel.

A little more outspoken...

Even if everything goes as it should from today, it will have taken almost 20 years from Beowulf receiving his first exploration permit in 2006 until production can begin, he states.

- It's ridiculous! We should have received our processing concession in 2016. Then we would have been in production now and been able to take advantage of the fact that iron ore prices are the highest in ten years. And Jokkmokk municipality had not had to cut their budget as they have done in recent years.

Patience? Might be a while longer...

Mining permit in long bench - then investments and jobs end up abroad
Permit processes for mining of up to 20 years. Now companies are getting tired and investments and jobs are ending up in other countries. At the same time, Minister of Trade and Industry Ibrahim Baylan is ducking because Sweden's international reputation as a mining nation is plummeting.

Kurt Budge is CEO of the company Beowulf Mining, which wants to establish an iron ore mine in Kallak near Jokkmokk. For him, it comes as no surprise that the attractiveness of Sweden as a mining country has fallen so rapidly.

- I'm not surprised. Since taking office, the government has talked about transparency and predictability, but we mining companies are still left out completely. This also applies to all the authorities involved in mining permits.

Beowulf has been involved in the Kallak mine for 15 years and has invested a total of SEK 80 million. In the autumn of 2015, the government received a recommendation from the Swedish mining inspectorate Bergsstaten, to give the company permission to go ahead and build the Kallak mine. But still the condition shines with its absence.

https://www.arbetsmarknadsnytt.se/gruvtillstand-i-langbank-da-hamnar-investeringar-och-arbetstillfa_1167144.html?fbclid=IwAR24Ymf140RDQe0Ans6XHqZ5qH-oiGaF7UI0PELjoI9xfhJrrKofmwCFFmk

An update would be good. I’d certainly like the real explanation as to why drilling at Kallak was ‘delayed’. I don’t buy the Covid reason. No doubt politically, and we’ll likely never know. The drill bit putting pounds on the SP? Lmao...

UNESCO aren’t going to be complicit with a government by way of a pre-agreed response to the application. Unless of course it’s negative...

Unfortunately aug59, that suggests Baylan knows what the reply from UNESCO will be, and of course he doesn’t. He’s placed kicked it into the unknown for whatever reason, though primarily to avoid responsibility for taking decision, whatever that decision might be. Now we know what the response from UNESCO should be... but who can actually say?

It’s never really been about reindeer though has it? I think we know that now. The Sammi applied for a permit for a wind farm a few tears ago as I recall? Right on the border of Laponia. That didn’t seem to be an issue did it? The actual Sammi people have just been used as a political patsy by Lofven and his Green partners. No doubt Sammi are against the mine, but it’s very convenient to shield behind indigenous rights...

No there isn’t... but for ‘transparency, and a little mischief on our part, there should be don’t you think?