Consternation in Berg municipality when Environment Minister opens for uranium mines

6/20/2023, 2:54:12 PM

Highlights: Since 2018, uranium mining has been prohibited in Sweden. But now the Minister of the Environment wants to change the law. "It would be a disaster if Storsjön were to be contaminated," says Lena Fernlund, who lives in the area. "I think we need uranium in Sweden," she says. "We need it for nuclear power," says another resident of the area, "but not in this way." "I don't think it's a good idea to use it for that," says the other resident, "and I don't want it to be used for that."

The issue of uranium mining is more topical than it has been for a long time after the Environment Minister's statement that "we need uranium mines in Sweden". But in Berg municipality, where one of the country's major deposits is located, many are upset. "It would be a disaster," says Lena Fernlund.

Since 2018, uranium mining has been prohibited in Sweden. But now the Minister of the Environment wants to change the law so that it will be allowed to mine uranium in Sweden.

– I think we need uranium mines in Sweden, says Romina Pourmokhtari (L) to SVT.

Uranium needed for nuclear power

The background is that the government has decided on a nuclear expansion, which means increased demand for uranium. But the Minister for the Environment also believes that uranium and other minerals needed for fossil-free conversion should be mined in Sweden.

Upset in Berg municipality

In Berg municipality there is a lot of alum shale, which contains uranium, but also other sought-after metals such as vanadium. Here are residents who have fought against the mining of alum shale for a long time. After the Environment Minister's statement, Lena Fernlund in Västeråsen is one of those outraged.

"In the small it is about farms that would have to be redeemed, in the big it would be a disaster if Storsjön were contaminated," she says.

But if you are going to have nuclear power, isn't it better to mine the uranium in Sweden then?

"You might like that if you're a nuclear advocate. But from the information I have received, the uranium will still not end up in the Swedish nuclear power plants.

Expected message and disaster – in the video you can see how Lena Fernlund, resident of Västeråsen and Anders Olof Öhlén, administrator at Berg municipality

reacts to the Minister of the Environment's message.