The decision comes after the case has been processed for nine years, where five of the nine years have been on the government's table for decision.
- The case has become a symbolic opportunity to find new mineral deposits and to go to open a mine in Sweden, so it is an important message and it sends signals internationally, says Maria Sunér.
Break with conditions
According to Minister of Trade and Industry Karl-Petter Thorwaldsson (S), the 12 conditions that are included for the company to receive a processing concession are something that Swedish mining companies are already indirectly doing today.
An opinion that Maria Sunér also shares.
- It is possible that it has not been so formalized if you go further back in history, the question is whether it is right to set the conditions already in the processing concession.
Thorwaldsson believes that this type of condition can become the model for how to deal with similar issues in the future, when two interests are set against each other.
New practice but not historical - yet
Maria Sunér believes that this may be part of how mining issues will be handled in the future, but she thinks it is too early to call the decision historic.
- These conditions are often something that is set in the environmental assessment now they are set at an earlier stage, but we must admit that we have not yet had time to analyze what the consequences are, but it is a change in practice when they now set the conditions so early.
The decision today means that Beowulf mining will receive a permit to mine minerals in Kallak, but before that is the case, it is still required that the company has an approved environmental permit, a process that will take another couple of years.
Listen to Sunér in the video above.