Beowulf Mining

Beowulf Mining is an English mining company active in developing open-pit mining in Sweden through its subsidiary, Jokkmokk Iron Mines AB. The company's planned operations at the Kallak site in northern Sweden, where they plan to mine for iron ore, are controversial, being opposed by the local Sami population.[1] The company claims its operations will not interfere with the reindeer herding practiced by the Sami claiming that "both mining and traditional reindeer herding activities can coexist."[2] Beowulf Mining is also active in Ballek, in the Norrbotten region in Sweden, where it plans exploratory operations for mining copper in late 2013.[2]

Kallak

In May 2013, the company announced it would not renew the exploration permit for one site near Kvikkjokk in Jokkmokk municipality because of inadequate infrastructure, but would continue at another of its 18 exploratory sites, at Kallak in the same municipality.[3] In August, after a month of protest, dozens of demonstrators dug themselves in at that site. Two protesters had tied themselves to pipes, and at one point protesters delayed test blasting by sitting in trees at the site.[4] All were removed by local police. Opponents of the mining project point out that what they consider long-term investments in the area are better for job creation: the company had promised the creation of almost 400 jobs for 14 years, whereas a tourist center in nearby Sarek National Park could create 500 jobs.[1] The 2013 protests were widely reported in the international media, with Fred Boman, CEO of Beowulf's Swedish subsidiary, again citing job creation (250 jobs and "opportunities for local businesses") as a plus. The economy of Jokkmokk and its number of inhabitants have been steadily declining, but opponents cite the dangers, including the railroad used to supply the mining operation, one local herdsman saying that trains on the local line had killed up to 1,200 reindeer. One of the cruxes is lack of Sami ownership of the land and a lack of protection of the Sami's indigenous rights; Sweden (almost 15,000 Sami), unlike for instance Norway (which has almost 40,000 Sami), has not signed on to an international treaty protecting those rights.[5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Törnkvist, Ann (13 August 2013). "Swedes' anger mounts over Beowulf mine plans". The Local. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  2. 1 2 Harrington, John (28 August 2011). "Beowulf Mining ironing out the wrinkles". Proactive Investors. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  3. ↑ Nyberg, Micke (17 May 2013). "Gruvbolag lämnar Laponia" (in Swedish). Sveriges Television. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  4. ↑ Tidningarnas Telegrambyrå (21 August 2013). "Aktivister i träd stoppade gruvbolag". Norrbottens-Kuriren (in Swedish). Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  5. ↑ Rising, Malin; David Mac Dougall (29 August 2013). "Sweden's indigenous Sami in fight against miners". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved 30 August 2013.

External links

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