According to Reuters report on July 23, the Swedish government announced on Thursday that the mining of key metals and rare earth minerals is considered a national security issue. It also stated that a new mining strategy is needed to reduce dependence on China.
China plays a leading role in the extraction and refining of rare earth minerals, which are essential raw materials for clean energy power generation, national defense, and the production of electric vehicles.
Reports say that export controls implemented by China have become an important policy tool in Beijing's hands during the trade war with Washington and other disputes.
Sweden also has abundant mineral resources. The Per Geijer deposit, located near the Kiruna mining site of Swedish mining company LKAB, is one of the flagship projects of the EU's efforts to reduce its dependence on China. The total mineral resource in this deposit is approximately 1.2 billion tons, of which about 2.2 million tons consist of rare earth oxides, making it of significant strategic importance to Europe.
Swedish Minister of Enterprise and Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch stated that classifying mining as a national security interest will help accelerate project planning and approval processes, thereby attracting more investment.
Bush said at a press conference: “We believe this will make a significant contribution to Sweden’s, the EU’s, and NATO’s defense capabilities.” She also claimed that Europe’s reliance on China is a ‘systemic risk’.
Bushi said that the new strategy will make it easier for the government to allocate land for mining projects. This is also a focal point of long-standing disputes between the government and the Sami reindeer herders. The Samis believe that expanding mining activities would mean the end of their traditional way of life.
She also stated that the Swedish government is studying the establishment of a state-owned investment company dedicated to supporting the development of the country's mining industry.
Bushi said, 'Frankly speaking, the government currently lacks practical tools to effectively promote the acceleration of key strategic projects, and it also has difficulty attracting relevant investments.'
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has stated that rare earth-related items have military and civilian dual-use attributes, and implementing export controls on them is in line with international practices. China legally enforces export controls on rare earth-related items with the aim of better safeguarding national security and interests, fulfilling international obligations such as preventing proliferation, and reflecting its consistent stance of maintaining world peace and regional stability.
