LKAB plan for Swedish rare earths mine could breach Sami rights, report says
Geopolitics · Mining.com ·
A Stockholm Environment Institute report warns that LKAB's Per Geijer rare earths and iron ore project in Sweden could violate indigenous Sami reindeer herders' rights by blocking their seasonal migration routes. The project has been designated strategically important by the EU as part of Europe's push to reduce reliance on Chinese rare earths, but faces legal opposition from the Sami community who argue it threatens their traditional way of life. The case highlights the growing tension between critical mineral development ambitions and indigenous land rights across Europe.