Swedish Parliament Lifts Uranium Mining Ban Amid Environmental Protests

On November 5, 2025, the Swedish parliament moved to lift the uranium mining ban implemented in 2018 under the Löfven government, citing rising demand and profitability of uranium extraction. The ban's repeal aligns with the current government's push for new nuclear power plants and the facilitation of mining critical rare earth metals needed for green technologies such as batteries and wind turbines. This decision also includes the gradual abolition of the municipal veto against uranium mining, a highly contentious measure opposed by the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions.

Outside the parliament, activists gathered with 28,000 signatures opposing uranium mining, voicing environmental concerns especially about mining in areas with alunskiffer (alum shale), which poses risks to local ecosystems. Protesters like Amanda Eliasson from Jämtland emphasized the protection of water and natural habitats, describing the region as one of Europe's last wildernesses. John Chapman clarified that the opposition targets the specific environmental consequences of uranium mining in alunskiffer, not nuclear power itself.

The government argues that the existing ban complicates and increases costs for other essential mining operations critical to Sweden's green transition. Despite opposition parties' criticism and environmental protests, the lifting of the ban reflects a strategic shift balancing energy demands and environmental concerns. This legislative change is expected to reshape domestic mining policy and Sweden's approach to nuclear energy resources.