Heavy consultation bodies say no to Cementa's request

It does not look easy for Cementa to continue with lime mining in Slite on Gotland.

Cementa got the government to enact an emergency law so that the company could continue with its lime mining.

But the new application, for limited lime mining for three years, is now receiving harsh criticism from important consultative bodies.

"Not the best possible technology"

The basis for the application is deficient, says the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, similar criticism comes from the County Administrative Board on Gotland.

The company does not live up to the knowledge requirement of the precautionary principle or the requirement of the best possible technology, writes the Water Authority for the southern Baltic Sea.

Cementa has not shown that it takes all measures to mitigate the impact due to water occurrence, according to the Swedish Maritime Administration.

Cement: "No holistic view"

Karin Comstedt Webb, who is head of sustainability at Cementa, has a hard time understanding the criticism.

She believes that there is a genuine basis that should be enough to say yes, especially as it is now a matter of limited activities and thus less risk of negative consequences for water and the environment.

- What we see is a sign that the environmental assessments will be so narrow that the environmental assessment cannot take a holistic approach and not consider the entire society's perspective on the issue, she tells SVT.

The municipality is positive

The municipality on Gotland is quite alone in responding positively.

Sweden's geological survey, SGU, says that lime mining will lead to unauthorized impact on groundwater according to the Environmental Code.

But it is still believed that it is possible to use the exemption in the water regulations for socially important activities, and that Cementa could get the go-ahead that way.

But Cementa's main argument about why the government, despite criticism of the consultation, should say yes, is not about groundwater or the environment, but about society's need for cement.

- A clear signal from the government is necessary if Sweden is not to be thrown into a situation of cement shortage with almost unforeseen consequences for the construction industry, says Karin Comstedt Webb