Ban on uranium mining

The plan rejects nuclear power expansion as a way out of fossil dependence, and uranium mining is a prerequisite for precisely that expansion. The plan also requires ambitious environmental targets that are followed up with sharp legislation and that the climate crisis is solved at the same time as biological diversity is protected. A national ban on uranium mining therefore follows from the plan's commitments.

• 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 dependence.”
• ambitious environmental targets with sharp law»miljömål som följs upp med skarp lagstiftning och praktiskt arbete.« (party programme ↗)“environmental targets that are followed up with sharp legislation and practical work.”
• protect biological diversity»Vi måste lösa klimatkrisen och skydda den biologiska mångfalden« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We must solve the climate crisis and protect biological diversity”
• mining with a holistic approach»Vi vill gå mot ett större gemensamt ägande av gruvbrytningen i« (party programme ↗)“We want to move towards greater public ownership of mining in”

The plan requires sustainable extraction and use of natural resources with compensation to individuals, state and municipality, thus regulation rather than total prohibition. It also establishes that there are no sacred cows when Sweden's energy needs are to be met. A national ban on all uranium mining lacks support in the plan, even though its demand for a non-toxic environment sets high environmental requirements on the activity.

• sustainable natural resource extractiondecisive»Hållbar utvinning och användning av naturresurser, med ekonomisk kompensation till« (party programme ↗)“Sustainable extraction and use of natural resources, with economic compensation to”
• technology-neutral energy policy»När det gäller att lösa Sveriges energibehov finns inga heliga kor.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“When it comes to meeting Sweden's energy needs there are no sacred cows.”
• a non-toxic environment»Giftfri miljö med ren luft och rent vatten i hela Sverige.« (party programme ↗)“A non-toxic environment with clean air and clean water throughout Sweden.”
• the role of nuclear power»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 remain so for a long time to come.”

The counter-proposal wants to introduce a national ban on all uranium mining. The plan explicitly states that uranium mining shall be prohibited and describes mining as environmentally destructive and as a source of dangerous waste without a long-term sustainable solution. The precautionary principle should moreover be applied to a greater extent when an activity can harm health and environment.

• ban on uranium miningdecisive»förbjudas, inga nya tillstånd för torvbrytning ska ges och uranbrytning ska vara« (party programme ↗)“be prohibited, no new permits for peat extraction shall be granted and uranium mining shall be”
• uranium mining harms 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”
• precautionary principle»ska försiktighetsprincipen tillämpas i högre utsträckning och försiktighetsmått ska« (party programme ↗)“the precautionary principle shall be applied to a greater extent and precautionary measures shall”
• no to new nuclear power»Miljöpartiet motsätter sig ny kärnkraft i svensk« (party programme ↗)“The Greens oppose new nuclear power in Swedish”

The party programme's vision is a society with one hundred percent renewable energy without nuclear power, and access to clean water and a toxin-free environment is described as a fundamental right. Uranium mining with risk of leakage of radioactive substances and heavy metals contradicts that principle and the line that it shall be unprofitable to act environmentally destructive. The election manifesto meanwhile wants Sweden to extract more minerals and metals, which pulls in another direction and lowers certainty in the assessment.

• 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 the duty to within less than one generation become a society with one hundred percent renewable energy, completely free from fossil energy, where Centerpartiet's vision is a society without nuclear power.”
• toxin-free environment as 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”
• polluter pays»Det ska alltid vara lönsamt att vara miljövårdande och olönsamt att agera miljöförstörande.« (party programme ↗)“It shall always be profitable to be environmentally protective and unprofitable to act environmentally destructive.”
• 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 that Sweden takes responsibility and extracts more minerals and metals instead of continuing to import them from countries with greater climate footprint and worse working conditions.”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

The plan embraces nuclear power for the climate's sake and wants the state to facilitate expansion, which presupposes access to nuclear fuel. Risks are handled according to the plan through clear environmental and safety requirements for all energy sources and continued research on fuel and waste, not through national bans. A total ban on uranium mining lacks support in the plan, even though the protection of drinking water is a commitment that pulls in the other direction.

• 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.”
• requirements instead of bans»För alla energislag ska finnas tydliga miljö- och säkerhetskrav.« (party programme ↗)“For all energy sources there shall be clear environmental and safety requirements.”
• risk minimization through research»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 minimize risks in operation and handling of fuel and waste.”
• protection of drinking water»Alla har rätt till rent vatten. Dricksvattenförsörjningen måste säkras och fler yt- och grundvattentäkter ges skydd.« (party programme ↗)“Everyone has the right to clean water. Drinking water supply must be secured and more surface and groundwater sources given protection.”

A national total ban on uranium mining clashes with the election manifesto's demand that nuclear power be given long-term conditions and be expanded, and with the requirement for assured self-sufficiency. The plan also describes stewardship as responsible use, not passive preservation. The precautionary principle justifies strict safety requirements at each review, but not a general ban.

• 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 to develop. Extend existing reactors' operation and build out with new reactors.”
• stewardship is use»Förvaltarskapet innebär inte ett passivt förhållningssätt utan är utvecklande och förädlande« (party programme ↗)“Stewardship does not mean a passive approach but is developing and refining”
• assured self-sufficiency»Självförsörjningen behöver tryggas för att Sverige inte ska bli beroende av elimport från« (party programme ↗)“Self-sufficiency needs to be assured so that Sweden does not become dependent on electricity imports from”
• the precautionary principle»skada på miljön, måste extra försiktighet tillämpas.« (party programme ↗)“damage to the environment, extra caution must be applied.”

The plan states that Sweden's rich mineral resources should be able to be extracted responsibly and sustainably long-term and that expanded nuclear power is central to energy supply. A national total ban on uranium mining closes that possibility entirely instead of managing the risks with safety and radiation protection requirements. The plan's position on reduced vulnerability points the same way. The demand is rejected.

• responsible mineral extractiondecisive»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 long-term.”
• nuclear power is central»I det läge Sverige har hamnat i på grund av dåliga politiska beslut kommer en utbyggnad av kärnkraften att vara helt central.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Given the situation Sweden has found itself in due to poor political decisions, an expansion of nuclear power will be absolutely central.”
• reduced vulnerability»Det nya säkerhetsläget i Europa gör att vi som land måste minska vår sårbarhet och öka vår självförsörjningsgrad.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The new security situation in Europe means that we as a country must reduce our vulnerability and increase our self-sufficiency.”

The plan wants it to become easier and faster to open mines and for the permitting processes for the mining industry to be made more efficient, and explicitly criticizes a policy where mines are not allowed to start. A national total ban on all uranium mining goes directly against this. The plan furthermore bases electricity supply on a long-term nuclear power investment.

• easier mine openingdecisive»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 example for battery manufacturing.”
• criticism of closure policy»Gruvor får inte startas, fiskodlingar flyttas till våra grannländer och skog tas ut ur produktion mot markägarnas vilja.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Mines are not allowed to start, fish farms are moved to our neighbouring countries and forest is taken out of production against landowners' will.”
• efficient permitting processes»Effektivisera och öka förutsägbarheten i tillståndsprocesserna för gruvnäring, elnätsutbyggnad och industri« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Make more efficient and increase predictability in the permitting processes for mining, power grid expansion and industry”
• long-term nuclear power investment»Sverigedemokraterna vill göra en långsiktig satsning på den nya generationens kärnkraft.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden Democrats want to make a long-term investment in the new generation's nuclear power.”