There were happy faces when LKAB and Minister of Economic Affairs Ebba Busch presented the news on Thursday.

The new find is an important building block to cope with the so-called green transition, they stated.

With the world press on site in Kiruna during the EU summit, the news spread quickly around the world.

At the same time, not far from the mine, the reindeer herders in Gabna Sami village took part in the news - and for them this means something completely different.

- We have only heard that they are investigating that area and now they are going out with this, right now, it feels like a PR trick, says Karin Kvarfordt Niia.

One of the most vulnerable Sami villages

Gabna is one of the most vulnerable Sami villages in Sweden when it comes to encroachment and land exploitation.

Since a century ago, they have been strongly influenced by LKAB's activities – not only the mining itself but also through the city relocation where Kiruna's new center is located in their area.

They called a press conference on Friday together with the National Confederation of Swedish Sami.

The reason was LKAB's plans.

Both the E10 and the railway – via which LKAB's ore is transported to Narvik – along Gabna's reindeer pastures.

And as if that wasn't enough, another mining company, Kaunis Iron, transports its ore along Gabna's reindeer pastures.

The reindeer are therefore run over by both cars and trains every year.

If LKAB's plans become reality, the Sami village now risks being split in half.

Then it is no longer possible to carry out traditional reindeer herding.

- LKAB's ever-expanding mining and ore transport takes place at the expense of the Sami's opportunities to practice and preserve their culture.

Reindeer management in the area is facing a collapse and the reindeer that will remain will no longer be able to roam freely as they always did, says Karin Kvarfordt Niia, spokesperson for the Sami village.

LKAB: "Society gets to decide"

From LKAB's side, Anders Lindberg, press manager, says that at the moment no consultation is required, but that the company has had a dialogue with Gabna and hopes to be able to agree on a solution that works for both parties.

You as a state-owned company are going big now during the EU Commission's visit, aren't you putting a lot of pressure on the Sami village?

- The Kiruna mine will run out one day and therefore we are looking for other deposits.

Sure, it's clear that we want to make money from our business, it's nothing we brag about, but this is important for Sweden and Europe and the whole world, that this type of metal is mined somewhere.

We understand that it causes concern for the Sami village, who realize that we have a very strong argument, but the Sami village is also protected by the law, that you have to take into account and investigate the impact and compensate for it.

LKAB intends to apply for a processing concession for the Per Geijer deposit this year.

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LKAB's press manager Anders Lindberg about the criticism.

Photo: SVT