Sweden wants to lift uranium mining ban

The Swedish authorities intend to lift the ban on uranium mining introduced five years ago – as stated by the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Energy, Business and Energy, Ebba Busch, TASS reports

"The government is open to uranium mining in Sweden and sees a need for it," Ms. Busch was quoted as saying by the TT news agency.

In September 2023, the country's authorities sent a proposal to Parliament to lift the ban on the construction of nuclear reactors, as well as to abolish the limit of ten units on the total number of operating reactors.

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Sweden holds approximately 27 percent of Europe's uranium reserves. In May 2018, the country's Parliament adopted a decision to ban uranium mining from August 1st of the same year, which also excludes the processing and enrichment of material ‘for use as nuclear fuel’.