In 2018, LKAB submitted an application to increase the mining rate from 30 to 37 million tonnes of raw ore per year.
In October 2021, the application was rejected by the Land and Environment Court with reference to shortcomings in the consultation conducted in 2017.
According to the court, LKAB had not called for a specific consultation for property owners with geothermal heating, but only a general consultation for all Kiruna residents.
Following the district court's ruling, LKAB appealed the decision to the Supreme Land and Environmental Court.
Refers to the consultation with property owners
On Thursday evening, the court ruled - they also reject the application for a new permit.
MÖD makes the same assessment as the Land and Environmental Court, with one member deviating, and emphasizes that the obligation to consult according to the environmental bank is not only about providing information, but also about having a dialogue with residents and others concerned.
Does not affect continued operations
This means that the company goes there on the same formal error as last time.
- If this dialogue takes place only when the application has been submitted to the court, there is a risk that the operator has already locked himself in a certain solution, says Ylva Osvald, Court of Appeal lawyer, in a press release.
She points out, however, that the court's rejection decision does not affect LKAB's ability to continue operations with the support of the old permit.
LKAB: "Extremely frustrating"
LKAB, which has spent several years and around SEK 100 million on the application, writes in a press release that they must now start again with a completely new application, or alternatively appeal to the Supreme Court.
- It is extremely frustrating that a dissenting court finally chose to reject our appeal.
We can not have an environmental assessment which means that the focus of the assessment is on formalities and process details, instead of environmental and societal benefits, says Niklas Johansson, LKAB's director of communication and climate, in the press release.
According to the mining company, there is also a risk that their 400 billion investment in switching to fossil-free production could be jeopardized by the decision.
We, other industries and Sweden are facing a long and arduous journey towards a fossil-free and electrically powered future.
Our image is that the system we have today does not promote necessary adjustments, says Niklas Johansson.
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Hear SVT's financial expert on LKAB's significance for the Swedish economy Photo: SVT