Just how significant is the discovery of rare earth metals in Arctic Sweden?
- Last week the Swedish government-owned mining company LKAB announced the discovery of the largest quantity of rare earth metals in Europe, outside the mining town of Kiruna in northern Sweden.
- The news made international headlines, as these rare earth metals are increasingly vital for all sorts of technologies in modern society – not least electric vehicles.
- “It’s very significant on a European scale. There is actually seemingly quite a likelihood that they might succeed”, says Erik Jonsson, Senior Geologist at the Geological Survey of Sweden.
Radio Sweden
For more on what the find might mean for Europe, listen to Radio Sweden’s full report.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Baffinland CEO disappointed by rejection of company’s expansion project, CBC News
Russia: New mining project sets sights on Chukotka in Russia’s eastern Arctic, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: LKAB discovers Europe’s largest rare earth metals deposit outside Russia, The Independent Barents Observer
