LKAB secures environmental permit for Gallivare Mining Operations

Sweden's Land and Environmental Court has granted LKAB an environmental permit to expand its 135-year-old mining operations in Malmberget, located in Gallivare. The approval secures the long-term viability of the site and paves the way for the construction of a fossil-free sponge iron demonstration plant, along with an apatite processing facility to supply the company's planned industrial park in Lulea.

The expansion targets vast mineral resources now estimated to exceed 2 billion tons. Beyond high-grade iron ore, the deposit also holds significant quantities of phosphorus and rare earth elements, which are destined for use in fertilizers, wind turbines, and defense technologies.

LKAB said the permit ensures decades of continued operations. The plans also include targeted measures to reduce local air and water pollution as the company transitions toward processing raw materials into green sponge iron.