Due to the increased fuel costs, the government has proposed that farmers and greenhouse companies should receive a tax reduction on diesel by two kronor per liter.

SSR has long requested that the reindeer herding industry receive corresponding support - but they have not yet received a response.

- The reindeer husbandry industry has also been affected by these increased costs, so of course the reindeer husbandry industry should also be covered by the support money, says Matti Blind Berg, SSR's chairman.

Unclear answers from the Minister

When SVT Sápmi asked the question about support for the reindeer herding industry, Minister of Rural Affairs Anna-Caren Sätherberg refused to give an interview.

Instead, she gave a written comment in which she claimed that it has already been fixed.

"The reindeer husbandry industry is covered by the same tax rules as agriculture and forestry regarding the tax reduction for fuels used in work machines," she wrote.

The only problem is that the reindeer husbandry does not use the same work tools as agriculture.

In the reindeer herding industry, snowmobiles and off-road vehicles are used, which primarily run on petrol.

When SVT Sápmi wanted to ask follow-up questions, the minister still refused to appear for an interview.

Instead, we had to ask the question to officials at the ministry.

In the reindeer industry, most work machines run on petrol, such as snowmobiles and off-road vehicles.

Does the same reduction in fuel tax also apply to petrol-powered vehicles?

"Other fuels used in cars, trucks or snowmobiles are not covered", was finally the short written answer.

"Must find long-term solution"

SSR has requested a meeting with the ministry but had not yet received an answer when SVT Sápmi spoke with Matti Blind Berg.

Regardless of what happens to the support, Matti Blind Berg sees a need for a long-term solution to the problem.

- This is a consequence of climate change.

We have to somehow think about how we are going to handle it in the future.

We can not live with fire brigade calls every year.

We must find a more long-term way of dealing with the climate impact we have that makes reindeer husbandry more expensive, he says.