Six years ago, the mining company Beowulf Mining applied for a mining license to mine iron ore in Kallak outside Jokkmokk. The County Administrative Board said no to the plans, but the Berg State considered that permission should be granted, which is why the decision has been handed over to the government. There it has been since summer 2017.

Moderate Mattias Karlsson this week reported the government to Parliament's Constitutional Committee (KU) for what he considers to be a smooth handling of the matter.

"The matter seems so obvious, which is why it is particularly strange that the government cannot reach a decision," he said.

Meeting with the Minister

In an interview with SVT, Beowulf's CEO Kurt Budge says that in a letter to Business Minister Ibrahim Baylan (S) they now demand a meeting on the process, which they believe has been going on for far too long.

- In this case, we have no transparency in the process and no idea when a decision will be made on our application, he tells SVT.

Ibrahim Baylan says in a written comment to TT that no meeting with the company is currently planned, and points out that the secretary of state met with representatives of the company this summer.

The decision regarding the processing concession contains complex issues and extensive documentation that affect the processing time, says Baylan.

"When the government decides in a government case, it is the end product of a long and thorough preparation process within the Government Offices."

The mining conflict in Kallak outside Jokkmokk extends for several years, and has been bordered by demonstrations, protests and blockades for test drilling for the mine. The Sami villages Sirges and Jåhkågasska have opposed the mining plans from the beginning.

Part Submission

Jenny Wik Karlsson, representative of Sirge's Sami village and federal lawyer at the Swedish Sami National Council, says she understands that the complicated issue is dragging on in time, and points out, among other things, that the application for a processing license has had to be completed in the meantime.

- Had there been sufficient evidence for the application, we might not have had this long processing time, she says.

However, if Beowulf were to have a meeting with the minister in the future, the Sami villagers must also have the chance to make their case heard, emphasizes Jenny Wik Karlsson.

- Beowulf's request is a party plea. Then the other party must also have the same opportunity.