2026-06-152025/26:NU27 · p.1NUBusiness & energy
Government's bill
New safety and radiation-protection requirements for extracting and processing nuclear materials
What's at stake: The reclassification means, among other things, that the requirement for municipal approval to carry out such activity disappears, which critics say substantially weakens municipal influence over uranium mining. The question matters for how much local communities can influence decisions on establishing mines and for how quickly uranium extraction can get under way in Sweden.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether parliament should adopt the government's bill on amended safety and radiation-protection rules for the extraction and processing of nuclear materials, which among other things reclassifies such activity from a nuclear facility to nuclear activity, or whether the bill should be rejected.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee endorses the government's bill and shares the assessment that appropriate safety and radiation-protection requirements are needed for extracting and processing nuclear materials, and therefore rejects the motion against the bill.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (V, C, MP)
The reserving members oppose the bill and consider it part of a one-sided drive to expand nuclear power; besides safety and environmental risks throughout the entire production chain, from mining to waste management, they point to high costs and financial risks for the state, and criticise that the reclassification circumvents the requirement for municipal approval and thereby substantially weakens municipal influence over uranium mining.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: adopting the government's legislative proposal and rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 1 by V, C, MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | No 0/21/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: high | not addressed |
| S | Yes | Yes 105/0/0/1 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/18/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | No | No 0/24/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | Yes | Yes 16/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | Yes | Yes 19/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 66/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: high | derived |
| SD | Yes | Yes 70/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Committee proposal
Parliament adopts the government's proposal for 1) law amending the Act (1984:3) on nuclear technology activities, 2) law amending the Act (2006:647) on financing of nuclear waste products, 3) law amending the Act (2010:950) on liability and compensation for radiological accidents. Thereby Parliament approves proposition 2025/26:168 points 1-3 and rejects the motions 2025/26:3959 by Birger Lahti et al. (V) and 2025/26:3982 by Katarina Luhr et al. (MP) motion 1.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen antar regeringens förslag till 1) lag om ändring i lagen (1984:3) om kärnteknisk verksamhet, 2) lag om ändring i lagen (2006:647) om finansiering av kärntekniska restprodukter, 3) till lag om ändring i lagen (2010:950) om ansvar och ersättning vid radiologiska olyckor. Därmed bifaller riksdagen proposition 2025/26:168 punkterna 1-3 och avslår motionerna 2025/26:3959 av Birger Lahti m.fl. (V) och 2025/26:3982 av Katarina Luhr m.fl. (MP) yrkande 1.
Riksdag decision: The government wants mining and processing of nuclear materials to be treated in the same way as other metals and minerals within the framework of the comprehensive licensing process. Parliament approved the government's proposal. The purpose of the government's proposal is for the assessment process for activities concerning both mining and processing of nuclear materials to a greater extent resemble the assessment process for other mining activities. This means that the process for initiating such activities becomes more transparent and efficient. The changes are made with the purpose of creating appropriate regulation for mining and processing of nuclear materials, where radiation protection and safety requirements are adapted to the risks of the activity. The proposals entail that mining and processing of uranium at a comprehensive level will be treated in the same way as other metals and minerals within the framework of the comprehensive licensing process. This has the consequence, among other things, that the government's permissibility review under the Environmental Code will no longer cover facilities for mining and processing of nuclear materials. This simultaneously means that the approval of the municipal council will no longer be required for such activity to be permitted. The Business Committee agrees with the government's assessment that this adaptation of the regulation entails that it becomes more logical and predictable. Overall, this creates better conditions for activities of strategic importance for the country's energy supply, as well as for Sweden to be able to contribute to both a higher degree of self-sufficiency in critical metals and minerals within the EU and the green transition. The legislative amendments come into force on 15 July 2026.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to maintain the requirement for municipal approval for uranium mining by classifying it as a nuclear installation. (V, C, MP) — Reservation 1
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan explicitly rejects plans to expand nuclear power as a way out of fossil fuel dependence and instead wants to see a radical expansion of renewable electricity.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly rejects plans to expand nuclear power as a way out of fossil fuel dependence and instead wants to see a radical expansion of renewable electricity. A regulatory framework that enables extraction of nuclear materials is part of that very expansion and therefore contradicts the plan. The plan also values municipal self-determination and wants mining to be conducted with a holistic view of local environmental values, which strengthens the objection to bypassing municipal influence.
Original (Swedish)
Planen avvisar uttryckligen planerna på att bygga ut kärnkraften som väg ut ur fossilberoendet och vill i stället se en radikal utbyggnad av förnybar el. Ett regelverk som möjliggör utvinning av kärnämnen är ett led i just den utbyggnaden och strider därför mot planen. Planen värnar dessutom det kommunala självstyret och vill att gruvbrytning drivs med helhetssyn på lokala naturvärden, vilket stärker invändningen mot att kommunalt inflytande kringgås.
- rejects expanded nuclear powerdecisive»planerna på att bygga ut kärnkraften som en väg ut ur fossilberoendet.« (party programme ↗)“plans to expand nuclear power as a way out of fossil fuel dependence.”
- municipal self-determination»Det kommunala självstyret är en betydelsefull del av den svenska« (party programme ↗)“Municipal self-determination is an important part of the Swedish”
- collectively owned mining»Vi vill gå mot ett större gemensamt ägande av gruvbrytningen i« (party programme ↗)“We want to move towards greater collective ownership of mining in”
- protect biological diversity»Vi måste lösa klimatkrisen och skydda den biologiska mångfalden« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We must solve the climate crisis and protect biological diversity”
The plan states that there are no sacred cows when Sweden's energy needs are to be solved and that nuclear power is an important part of electricity production for a long time to come.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that there are no sacred cows when Sweden's energy needs are to be solved and that nuclear power is an important part of electricity production for a long time to come. Rejecting appropriate safety and radiation protection requirements for mining of nuclear material is not supported by the plan, which instead wants sustainable extraction of natural resources under regulated forms. However, the plan does not take a position on uranium extraction as such, so the assessment is uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att det inte finns några heliga kor när Sveriges energibehov ska lösas och att kärnkraften är en viktig del av elproduktionen under lång tid framöver. Att avslå ändamålsenliga säkerhets- och strålskyddskrav för utvinning av kärnämnen stöds inte av planen, som i stället vill ha hållbar utvinning av naturresurser under reglerade former. Planen tar dock inte ställning till uranutvinning som sådan, varför bedömningen är osäker.
- technology-neutral energy policydecisive»När det gäller att lösa Sveriges energibehov finns inga heliga kor.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“When it comes to solving Sweden's energy needs, there are no sacred cows.”
- nuclear power's role»Kärnkraften är en viktig del av svensk elproduktion och kommer att så vara under lång tid framöver.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Nuclear power is an important part of Swedish electricity production and will continue to be so for a long time.”
- sustainable natural resource extraction»Hållbar utvinning och användning av naturresurser, med ekonomisk kompensation till« (party programme ↗)“Sustainable extraction and use of natural resources, with economic compensation to”
- fossil-free electricity production»Stabil, tillförlitlig och fossilfri elproduktion som på lång sikt är förnybar.« (party programme ↗)“Stable, reliable and fossil-free electricity production that in the long term is renewable.”
The counter-proposal opposes a regulation that enables extraction of rare earth elements and criticizes that the requirement for municipal approval is circumvented.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal opposes a regulation that enables extraction of rare earth elements and criticizes that the requirement for municipal approval is circumvented. The plan requires that uranium mining is prohibited and opposes new nuclear power, while establishing that there shall always be local anchoring in the extraction of natural resources. The counter-proposal's requirements thus coincide with the plan's explicit commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget motsätter sig ett regelverk som möjliggör utvinning av kärnämnen och kritiserar att kravet på kommunal tillstyrkan kringgås. Planen kräver att uranbrytning förbjuds och motsätter sig ny kärnkraft, samtidigt som den slår fast att det alltid ska finnas lokal förankring vid utvinning av naturresurser. Motförslagets krav sammanfaller därmed med planens uttryckliga åtaganden.
- prohibition of uranium miningdecisive»förbjudas, inga nya tillstånd för torvbrytning ska ges och uranbrytning ska vara« (party programme ↗)“is prohibited, no new permits for peat extraction shall be given and uranium mining shall be”
- no to new nuclear power»Miljöpartiet motsätter sig ny kärnkraft i svensk« (party programme ↗)“The Greens oppose new nuclear power in Swedish”
- local anchoring in extraction»Det ska alltid finnas lokal förankring vid utvinning av naturresurser. Alla som berörs ska« (party programme ↗)“There shall always be local anchoring in the extraction of natural resources. All who are affected shall”
- uranium mining damages the environment»miljöförstörande brytning av uran, som är en ändlig resurs som skapar farligt avfall utan« (party programme ↗)“environmentally destructive mining of uranium, which is a finite resource that creates dangerous waste without”
The party programme's vision is a society with one hundred per cent renewable energy without nuclear power, and the plan is consistently decentralist: decisions shall be made close to those affected.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme's vision is a society with one hundred per cent renewable energy without nuclear power, and the plan is consistently decentralist: decisions shall be made close to those affected. A regulation that opens for uranium mining and simultaneously circumvents the requirement for municipal approval contradicts both. That clean water and a toxin-free environment are a fundamental right weighs the same way, even though the plan otherwise wants to increase extraction of minerals and metals.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammets vision är ett samhälle med hundra procent förnybar energi utan kärnkraft, och planen är konsekvent decentralistisk: beslut ska fattas nära dem som berörs. Ett regelverk som öppnar för uranutvinning och samtidigt kringgår kravet på kommunal tillstyrkan strider mot båda. Att rent vatten och giftfri miljö är en fundamental rätt väger åt samma håll, även om planen i övrigt vill öka utvinningen av mineral och metaller.
- renewable society without nuclear powerdecisive»Sverige har både möjlighet och skyldighet att inom mindre än en generation bli ett samhälle med hundra procent förnybar energi, helt fritt från fossil energi, där Centerpartiets vision är ett samhälle utan kärnkraft.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden has both the opportunity and duty to within less than a generation become a society with one hundred per cent renewable energy, completely free from fossil energy, where the Centre Party's vision is a society without nuclear power.”
- municipal influence»Decentralisera mera. Människor ska få bestämma mer själva, och politiska beslut ska fattas nära dem som berörs.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Decentralise more. People shall be able to decide more for themselves, and political decisions shall be made close to those affected.”
- toxin-free environment as a right»Tillgång till rent vatten, ren luft och giftfri miljö är en fundamental rätt för alla människor« (party programme ↗)“Access to clean water, clean air and a toxin-free environment is a fundamental right for all people”
- domestic mineral extraction»Det är bättre att Sverige tar ansvar och utvinner mer mineral och metaller istället för att fortsätta importera dem från länder med större klimatavtryck och sämre arbetsvillkor.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It is better for Sweden to take responsibility and extract more minerals and metals instead of continuing to import them from countries with larger climate footprint and worse working conditions.”
The plan establishes that nuclear power is needed for the climate's sake and that the state shall facilitate expansion, among other things through modernised regulations.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that nuclear power is needed for the climate's sake and that the state shall facilitate expansion, among other things through modernised regulations. Fit-for-purpose safety and radiation protection requirements are exactly the order the plan advocates, since it requires clear environmental and safety requirements for all energy types. The counter-proposal's opposition to the regulatory framework for extraction of nuclear materials thereby goes against the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att kärnkraften behövs för klimatets skull och att staten ska underlätta utbyggnaden, bland annat genom moderniserade regelverk. Ändamålsenliga säkerhets- och strålskyddskrav är precis den ordning planen förordar, eftersom den kräver tydliga miljö- och säkerhetskrav för alla energislag. Motförslagets motstånd mot regelverket för utvinning av kärnämnen går därmed emot planen.
- nuclear power for the climatedecisive»Kärnkraften behövs för klimatets skull och för att minska världens utsläpp.« (party programme ↗)“Nuclear power is needed for the climate's sake and to reduce the world's emissions.”
- environmental and safety requirements»För alla energislag ska finnas tydliga miljö- och säkerhetskrav.« (party programme ↗)“For all energy types there shall be clear environmental and safety requirements.”
- modernised nuclear regulations»I stället vill vi möjliggöra fler nya reaktorer på fler ställen, möjliggöra återstart av Ringhals 1 och 2, se till att statliga lånegarantier omfattar kärnkraften, modernisera regelverken och ge kärnkraften betalt för att den alltid finns tillgänglig.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Instead we want to enable more new reactors in more places, enable restart of Ringhals 1 and 2, ensure that state loan guarantees cover nuclear power, modernise the regulations and ensure nuclear power is paid for always being available.”
- risk minimisation throughout the chain»Fortsatt forskning och utveckling behövs för att minimera riskerna vid drift samt hantering av bränsle och avfall.« (party programme ↗)“Continued research and development is needed to minimise risks during operation and the handling of fuel and waste.”
The counter-proposal opposes the bill as part of nuclear power expansion.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal opposes the bill as part of nuclear power expansion. The election manifesto, by contrast, demands that nuclear power be given long-term conditions and expanded with new reactors, and the programme wants to value base power and secure self-sufficiency so Sweden does not become dependent on electricity imports. To regulate the activity with safety and radiation protection requirements aligns with the requirement for safe and secure conditions.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget motsätter sig lagförslaget som en del av en kärnkraftsutbyggnad. Valmanifestet kräver tvärtom att kärnkraften ges långsiktiga villkor och byggs ut med nya reaktorer, och programmet vill värna baskraften och trygga självförsörjningen så att Sverige inte blir beroende av elimport. Att reglera verksamheten med säkerhets- och strålskyddskrav ligger i linje med kravet på trygga och säkra förhållanden.
- expanded nuclear powerdecisive»Satsa på kärnkraften med långsiktiga villkor att utvecklas. Förläng befintliga reaktorers drift och bygg ut med nya reaktorer.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Invest in nuclear power with long-term conditions for development. Extend the operation of existing reactors and expand with new reactors.”
- base power must be valued»baskraften som framförallt utgörs av kärnkraft, vattenkraft och kraftvärme. Denna baskraft« (party programme ↗)“base power which is mainly made up of nuclear power, hydropower and combined heat and power. This base power”
- secured self-sufficiency»Självförsörjningen behöver tryggas för att Sverige inte ska bli beroende av elimport från« (party programme ↗)“Self-sufficiency needs to be secured so Sweden does not become dependent on electricity imports from”
- local acceptance for power expansion»nya kraftverk ska alltid ske transparent och med hög acceptans i den berörda kommunen.« (party programme ↗)“new power plants should always be done transparently and with high acceptance in the affected municipality.”
The plan makes expanded nuclear power a central task and wants to give the Radiation Safety Authority resources to develop regulations for new nuclear power; fit-for-purpose safety and radiation protection requirements for nuclear materials are part of that.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan makes expanded nuclear power a central task and wants to give the Radiation Safety Authority resources to develop regulations for new nuclear power; fit-for-purpose safety and radiation protection requirements for nuclear materials are part of that. The plan also states that Swedish mineral resources should be able to be extracted responsibly. The counter-proposal's requirement to stop the proposal is rejected.
Original (Swedish)
Planen gör utbyggd kärnkraft till en central uppgift och vill ge Strålsäkerhetsmyndigheten resurser att ta fram regelverk för ny kärnkraft; ändamålsenliga säkerhets- och strålskyddskrav för kärnämnen är ett led i det. Planen slår också fast att svenska mineraltillgångar ska kunna utvinnas ansvarsfullt. Motförslagets krav att stoppa förslaget avvisas.
- nuclear power is centraldecisive»I det läge Sverige har hamnat i på grund av dåliga politiska beslut kommer en utbyggnad av kärnkraften att vara helt central.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“In the situation Sweden has ended up in due to poor political decisions, an expansion of nuclear power will be entirely central.”
- framework for new nuclear power»Ge resurser till Strålsäkerhetsmyndigheten för att ta fram ett regelverk för ny kärnkraft« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Give resources to the Radiation Safety Authority to develop a framework for new nuclear power”
- responsible mineral extraction»Våra rika mineraltillgångar ska kunna utvinnas ansvarsfullt och långsiktigt hållbart.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Our rich mineral resources should be able to be extracted responsibly and sustainably in the long term.”
- remove obstacles for nuclear power»Ta bort förbudet mot att ha fler än tio kärnkraftsreaktorer i drift« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Remove the ban on having more than ten nuclear reactors in operation”
The plan wants to make permission processes for mining more efficient, faster and more predictable and actively create conditions for new nuclear power.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to make permission processes for mining more efficient, faster and more predictable and actively create conditions for new nuclear power. The counter-proposal opposes the regulations as part of nuclear power expansion and wants to keep municipal approval as a barrier, which goes against these commitments. The plan also opposes symbolic politics that hinders industry and commerce.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill effektivisera och göra tillståndsprocesserna för gruvnäring snabbare och mer förutsägbara samt aktivt skapa förutsättningar för ny kärnkraft. Motförslaget motsätter sig regelverket som en del av kärnkraftsutbyggnaden och vill behålla kommunal tillstyrkan som hinder, vilket går emot dessa åtaganden. Planen vänder sig också mot symbolpolitik som hämmar industri och näring.
- efficient permission processesdecisive»Effektivisera och öka förutsägbarheten i tillståndsprocesserna för gruvnäring, elnätsutbyggnad och industri« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Make permission processes for mining, power-grid expansion and industry more efficient and increase predictability”
- new nuclear power»Skapa förutsättningar för ny kärnkraft i Sverige och en färdplan för byggandet av SMR-reaktorer« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Create conditions for new nuclear power in Sweden and a roadmap for building SMR reactors”
- easier to open mines»Det behöver också bli enklare och gå snabbare att öppna gruvor för de mineraler som behövs för exempelvis tillverkning av batterier.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It also needs to become easier and faster to open mines for the minerals needed for, for example, battery manufacturing.”
- stop for hindering symbolic politics»Stoppa symbolpolitik som går ut över möjligheten att bedriva industri och näring« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Stop symbolic politics that undermines the ability to conduct industry and commerce”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2025/26:NU27)
- Committee report full text (HD01NU27)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2025/26:3959 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:168 Ändamålsenliga säkerhets- och strålskyddskrav för utvinning och bearbetning av kärnämnen av Birger Lahti m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2025/26:3973 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:168 Ändamålsenliga säkerhets- och strålskyddskrav för utvinning och bearbetning av kärnämnen av Fredrik Olovsson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:3982 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:168 Ändamålsenliga säkerhets- och strålskyddskrav för utvinning och bearbetning av kärnämnen av Katarina Luhr m.fl. (MP)
- Proposition 2025/26:168 — Ändamålsenliga säkerhets- och strålskyddskrav för utvinning och bearbetning av kärnämnen
Source: The Swedish Parliament