2026-06-152025/26:NU27 · p.6NUBusiness & energy
Municipal influence regarding mining of alum shale
Municipal influence over mining in alum shale
What's at stake: Mining in alum shale can have major consequences for nearby communities, and the question is whether the local population should have a formal veto over such activity, or whether decisions on mining can be made without municipal approval, pending an announced review of the municipalities' role.
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 a municipal veto against mining in alum shale should be introduced, with a clear timeline for when the government is to report back on the matter, or whether the current arrangement without such a veto should stand pending further consideration.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motions for a municipal veto against mining in alum shale and assumes that the government's announced review of municipalities' influence over such mining will go ahead, without parliament needing to issue a special declaration on the matter at this time.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 10 (S, V, C, MP)
The reserving members consider that a municipal veto against mining in alum shale should be introduced, since such activity can have major consequences for the local area and cause local concern; they note that the government has announced a review of municipalities' veto and influence but has not yet presented any concrete measures, and want the government to promptly come back with a clear timeline for when such rules can be in place.
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: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 10 by S, 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: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | No 0/105/0/1 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | 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: low | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 19/0/0/0 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | Yes | Yes 66/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | Yes | Yes 70/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects the motions 2025/26:3973 by Fredrik Olovsson et al. (S) demand 2 and 2025/26:3982 by Katarina Luhr et al. (MP) demands 4 and 5.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2025/26:3973 av Fredrik Olovsson m.fl. (S) yrkande 2 och 2025/26:3982 av Katarina Luhr m.fl. (MP) yrkandena 4 och 5.
Riksdag decision: The government wants extraction 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 voted yes on the government's proposal. The purpose of the government's proposal is that the review process for activities involving both extraction and processing of nuclear materials should increasingly resemble the review process for other mining operations. This means that the process for initiating such activities becomes more transparent and efficient. The amendments are made in order to create an appropriate regulation for extraction and processing of nuclear materials, where radiation protection and safety requirements are adapted to the risks of the activity. The proposals mean that extraction and processing of uranium at an overall level will be treated in the same way as other metals and minerals within the framework of the comprehensive licensing process. This means, among other things, that the government's permissibility review under the Environmental Code will no longer include facilities for extraction and processing of nuclear materials. It also means that municipal council approval will no longer be required for such activity to be permitted. The Industry Committee agrees with the government's assessment that this adjustment of the regulations makes it 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 contribute to both a higher degree of self-sufficiency in critical metals and minerals within the EU and the green transition. The legislative amendments enter into force on 15 July 2026.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants municipal approval to remain a requirement for uranium extraction activities. (S, V, C, MP) — Reservation 10
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 highlights municipal self-governance and demands that planning has genuine democratic anchorage and is based on people's love of the place they live in.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan highlights municipal self-governance and demands that planning has genuine democratic anchorage and is based on people's love of the place they live in. Quarrying in alum shale has major consequences for the surrounding area, and the plan wants quarrying to be driven with a long-term holistic perspective that weighs in local natural values. A municipal veto against such quarrying thus aligns with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen framhåller det kommunala självstyret och kräver att planering har genuin demokratisk förankring och utgår från människors kärlek till platsen de bor på. Brytning i alunskiffer får stora konsekvenser för närområdet, och planen vill att gruvbrytning drivs med ett långsiktigt helhetsperspektiv som väger in lokala naturvärden. Ett kommunalt veto mot sådan brytning ligger därför i linje med planen.
- municipal self-governancedecisive»Det kommunala självstyret är en betydelsefull del av den svenska« (party programme ↗)“Municipal self-governance is an important part of Swedish”
- democratic anchorage of planning»Planeringen behöver en genuin demokratisk« (party programme ↗)“Planning needs genuine democratic”
- quarrying with holistic perspective»Vi vill gå mot ett större gemensamt ägande av gruvbrytningen i« (party programme ↗)“We want to move toward greater collective ownership of quarrying in”
- ambitious environmental targets»miljömål som följs upp med skarp lagstiftning och praktiskt arbete.« (party programme ↗)“environmental targets followed up with sharp legislation and practical work.”
The plan values municipal self-governance and wants systems that strengthen the local community in major industrial establishments.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan values municipal self-governance and wants systems that strengthen the local community in major industrial establishments. Mining in alum shale has major consequences for the local area, and municipal veto gives the local control the plan seeks. The plan's requirement for sustainable extraction and protection of biological diversity reinforces the conclusion.
Original (Swedish)
Planen värnar det kommunala självstyret och vill ha system som stärker lokalsamhället vid stora industrietableringar. Brytning i alunskiffer får stora konsekvenser för närområdet, och ett kommunalt veto ger den lokala rådighet planen efterfrågar. Planens krav på hållbar utvinning och värn av biologisk mångfald förstärker slutsatsen.
- municipal self-governancedecisive»Kommunalt och regionalt självstyre med beskattningsrätt.« (party programme ↗)“Municipal and regional self-governance with taxation rights.”
- strengthened local community»System för att stärka lokalsamhället vid stora industrietableringar.« (party programme ↗)“Systems to strengthen the local community in major industrial establishments.”
- sustainable extraction»Hållbar utvinning och användning av naturresurser, med ekonomisk kompensation till« (party programme ↗)“Sustainable extraction and use of natural resources, with economic compensation to”
- protected nature»Värn av biologisk mångfald och Sveriges värdefulla natur och vattenmiljöer.« (party programme ↗)“Protection of biological diversity and Sweden's valuable nature and aquatic environments.”
The counter-proposal wants to introduce a municipal veto against alum shale mining because the activity has major consequences for the surrounding area.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wants to introduce a municipal veto against alum shale mining because the activity has major consequences for the surrounding area. The plan establishes that there shall always be local anchoring in the extraction of natural resources and that everyone affected shall have influence, with decentralization as the underlying principle. The plan also places new mines last in the priority order and wants the precautionary principle to be applied more strongly.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill införa ett kommunalt veto mot brytning i alunskiffer eftersom verksamheten får stora konsekvenser för närområdet. Planen slår fast att det alltid ska finnas lokal förankring vid utvinning av naturresurser och att alla berörda ska ha inflytande, med decentralisering som bärande princip. Planen sätter dessutom nya gruvor sist i prioriteringsordningen och vill att försiktighetsprincipen tillämpas starkare.
- local anchoring in extractiondecisive»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. Everyone affected shall”
- decentralization»Decentralisering skapar motvikt till maktkoncentration.« (party programme ↗)“Decentralization creates counterweight to power concentration.”
- new mines last»tredje hand ska redan existerande gruvor användas och först därefter bör nya gruvor« (party programme ↗)“third hand shall existing mines be used and only then should new mines”
- the precautionary principle»ska försiktighetsprincipen tillämpas i högre utsträckning och försiktighetsmått ska« (party programme ↗)“shall the precautionary principle be applied to a greater extent and precautionary measures shall”
The plan's decentralization principle is that people must have more say and decisions must be made close to those affected, and it requires local anchoring and strong property rights when land is taken into use.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's decentralization principle is that people must have more say and decisions must be made close to those affected, and it requires local anchoring and strong property rights when land is taken into use. Mining in alum shale has major consequences for the surrounding area, which makes a municipal veto an application of that principle. That the plan in other respects wants to increase mineral extraction argues against it, but does not settle the question of who decides.
Original (Swedish)
Planens decentraliseringsprincip är att människor ska bestämma mer själva och att beslut ska fattas nära dem som berörs, och den kräver lokal förankring och stark äganderätt när mark tas i anspråk. Brytning i alunskiffer får stora konsekvenser för närområdet, vilket gör ett kommunalt veto till en tillämpning av den principen. Att planen i övrigt vill öka mineralutvinningen talar emot, men avgör inte frågan om vem som ska bestämma.
- decentralize furtherdecisive»Decentralisera mera. Människor ska få bestämma mer själva, och politiska beslut ska fattas nära dem som berörs.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Decentralize further. People must have more say themselves, and political decisions must be made close to those affected.”
- local anchoring and compensation»Den gröna omställningen kräver lokal förankring. Den som bor eller äger mark nära ett vindkraftverk ska kunna få ersättning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The green transition requires local anchoring. Those who live or own land near a wind turbine should be able to receive compensation.”
- strong property rights»Äganderätten är central för ett samhälle där människor kan förverkliga sig själva och sina drömmar.« (party programme ↗)“Property rights are central to a society where people can realize themselves and their dreams.”
- 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 rather than continue to import them from countries with larger carbon footprints and worse working conditions.”
The plan provides no support for municipal veto rights outside wind power, where it is instead pointed out specifically.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan provides no support for municipal veto rights outside wind power, where it is instead pointed out specifically. Local anchorage is handled according to the plan through cooperation with landowners and the local population as well as through oversight and environmental requirements, not through veto rights against an entire extraction method. Protection of water supplies is, however, a commitment that speaks for stronger local protection options.
Original (Swedish)
Planen ger inget stöd för kommunala vetorätter utanför vindkraften, där den tvärtom pekas ut särskilt. Lokal förankring hanteras enligt planen genom samverkan med markägare och lokalbefolkning samt genom tillsyn och miljökrav, inte genom vetorätt mot en hel brytningsmetod. Skyddet av vattentäkter är dock ett åtagande som talar för starkare lokala skyddsmöjligheter.
- veto specific for wind powerdecisive»Det kommunala vetot mot vindkraft ska bestå.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The municipal veto against wind power shall remain.”
- cooperation with the local population»Staten ska sträva efter god samverkan med markägare och lokalbefolkning i naturvård och viltförvaltning.« (party programme ↗)“The state shall strive for good cooperation with landowners and the local population in nature conservation and wildlife management.”
- protection of water supplies»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 shall be protected.”
- remove obstacles for business»Politikens uppgift måste vara att snabbt undanröja hinder för att underlätta för företag och människor att ta vara på de möjligheter som den tekniska utvecklingen skapar.« (party programme ↗)“Policy's task must be to quickly remove obstacles to make it easier for businesses and people to take advantage of the opportunities that technological development creates.”
Mining in alum shale has major consequences for the surrounding area, and the plan requires that municipal self-government is strong and that the burden of proof rests with whoever wants to deprive the municipality of its influence.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
Mining in alum shale has major consequences for the surrounding area, and the plan requires that municipal self-government is strong and that the burden of proof rests with whoever wants to deprive the municipality of its influence. The precautionary principle applies when there is suspicion of irreversible environmental damage. A municipal veto therefore is in line with the documents' requirements for local influence over major establishments.
Original (Swedish)
Brytning i alunskiffer får stora konsekvenser för närområdet, och planen kräver att den kommunala självstyrelsen är stark och att bevisbördan ligger på den som vill beröva kommunen dess inflytande. Försiktighetsprincipen gäller när det finns misstanke om oåterkallelig skada på miljön. Ett kommunalt veto ligger därför i linje med dokumentens krav på lokalt inflytande över tunga etableringar.
- strong municipal self-governmentdecisive»Kommunal demokrati förutsätter kommunal självstyrelse. Den kommunala självstyrelsen ska« (party programme ↗)“Municipal democracy presupposes municipal self-government. Municipal self-government shall”
- burden of proof at higher level»Denna princip innebär att bevisbördan vilar på dem som vill beröva en mindre gemenskap på« (party programme ↗)“This principle means that the burden of proof rests with those who want to deprive a smaller community of”
- the precautionary principle»skada på miljön, måste extra försiktighet tillämpas.« (party programme ↗)“damage to the environment, extra caution must be applied.”
- respect for local democracy»Bygg ut vindkraften men med respekt för den lokala demokratin och anpassa storleken efter lokala villkor. Vindkraft kan dock bara vara ett komplement.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Develop wind power but with respect for local democracy and adapt the size to local conditions. Wind power can, however, only be a complement.”
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 states that Swedish mineral resources should be able to be extracted responsibly and long-term sustainably and wants to shorten and simplify permit processes with a deadline.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that Swedish mineral resources should be able to be extracted responsibly and long-term sustainably and wants to shorten and simplify permit processes with a deadline. A municipal veto against mining in alum shale, by contrast, adds a new blocking decision in the review. The plan's principle on decisions close to citizens speaks partly against it, but the main demand is rejected.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att svenska mineraltillgångar ska kunna utvinnas ansvarsfullt och långsiktigt hållbart och vill korta och förenkla tillståndsprocesser med en bortre tidsgräns. Ett kommunalt veto mot brytning i alunskiffer lägger tvärtom till ett nytt stoppbeslut i prövningen. Planens princip om beslut nära medborgarna talar delvis emot, men huvudkravet avvisas.
- 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 long-term sustainably.”
- faster permit review»Korta myndigheternas handläggningstider genom en bortre tidsgräns« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Shorten the authorities' processing times through a deadline”
- simplified permit processes»Utöver det vill vi förkorta och förenkla tillståndsprocesser för industrier som satsar på omställning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Beyond that, we want to shorten and simplify permit processes for industries that are investing in transition”
- decisions at the lowest effective level»Det politiska systemet ska bygga på att beslut fattas på lägsta« (party programme ↗)“The political system should be built on decisions being taken at the lowest”
The plan wants it to become simpler and faster to open mines and that licensing processes be made more predictable, and that rural values be utilised with carefully balanced environmental consideration.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants it to become simpler and faster to open mines and that licensing processes be made more predictable, and that rural values be utilised with carefully balanced environmental consideration. A municipal veto against mining in alum shale would add a new obstacle in the assessment. The plan's explicit veto commitment applies to wind power, not mining.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att det blir enklare och snabbare att öppna gruvor och att tillståndsprocesserna görs mer förutsägbara, samt att landsbygdens värden tas till vara med en väl avvägd miljöhänsyn. Ett kommunalt veto mot brytning i alunskiffer skulle lägga till ett nytt hinder i prövningen. Planens uttryckliga vetoåtagande gäller vindkraft, inte gruvbrytning.
- simpler 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 simpler and faster to open mines for the minerals needed for, for example, battery manufacturing.”
- efficient licensing processes»Effektivisera och öka förutsägbarheten i tillståndsprocesserna för gruvnäring, elnätsutbyggnad och industri« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Streamline and increase predictability in licensing processes for mining, electricity grid expansion and industry”
- utilise rural values»Sverige behöver en politik som tar till vara värdet ute i landsbygden och som gör det enklare att i kombination med en väl avvägd miljöhänsyn att skapa fler verksamheter, jobb och ökad tillväxt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden needs a policy that utilises the value in rural areas and that makes it easier to, in combination with carefully balanced environmental consideration, create more operations, jobs and increased growth.”
- veto explicitly for wind power»Värna det kommunala vetot vid etablering av vindkraft« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Protect the municipal veto over wind power establishment”
Share and embed
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