Legal exception may be the way forward for Cementa in Slite

Cementa delivers 75 percent of all cement in Sweden.

In July came the cold shower - the lime quarry in Slite must not continue after the end of October.

Since then, companies, the construction industry and the government have worried about how to avoid all construction activities in Sweden ending up in an acute crisis situation.  

It's all about the groundwater.

The Environmental Court previously granted the application for continued and expanded operation, but in July the Environmental Court of Appeal revoked the ruling, following critical comments from both the County Administrative Board, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the Swedish Geological Survey SGU

- We do not think Cementa's data shows reliably enough what impact it has on groundwater, says SGU's unit manager Mats Wallin, to SVT.

Received criticism for shortcomings - over a year ago

The Environmental Court of Appeal criticizes shortcomings in analyzes of how groundwater and sensitive environments are affected.

But Cementa has appealed and says that it is remarkable that the court only now questions the environmental impact statement.

But SVT's review shows that this criticism is hardly new.

The expert authority SGU wrote over a year ago in a submission that the company needs to "supplement the application", it called for "refined local analyzes" of groundwater, including designated wetlands. 

Cementa believes that new information has been provided which, taken as a whole, should provide a sufficiently clear picture.

But SGU's Mats Wallin thinks that there is still a lack of credible calculations of local impact on sensitive environments and saltwater penetration into the groundwater. 

SGU: The business should be classified as a national interest

At the same time, SGU believes that Cementa's operations are so important to the whole of society that it is classified as a national interest.

Then you can - according to water legislation - grant exemptions.

This would mean accepting a greater impact on water, vegetation and animals. 

Cementa did not want to take that path, but that is what SGU has previously recommended. But they still think that Cementa needs to present better data, something that will probably take at least a year to produce.