Teller Report

EU wants to increase extraction of minerals – can increase pressure on Sami villages

3/16/2023, 1:09:53 PM

Today, the European Commission presents its legal act on how to make the EU more self-sufficient in so-called critical minerals. But in many cases, mining is opposed to other interests – as in the case of the mining company Talga's plans to mine graphite in Talma Sami village's winter pastures in Kiruna municipality.


Talma Sami village has opposed the plans for graphite mining and the issue will be decided by the Land and Environment Court. The verdict is expected in early April.

Ever since the plans for the mine took firmer shape around 2015, the Sami village has protested.

Many years of protests

It's not just the lands as such that are disappearing. Aslak Allas, chairman of the Sami village, fears that mining will scare the reindeer away from the area.

"It's dusting, noise and all sorts of things. The reindeer will avoid the area," he said.

Indigenous law

The question is whether the EU's upcoming package of laws on critical minerals will make it easier for mining developers in areas with land conflicts. For example, will it be pitted against indigenous law?

"I see it as a way to sell in order to make it easy to start mines. But indigenous rights carry weight, says Aslak Allas.