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.
V–
S–
MP–
C–
L–
KD–
M–
SD–
YesNoAbstainAbsent
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.
The plan's stance / Actual vote
AI
Vote
Confidence
Evidence
Vown reservation
–
No 0/21/0/0
Sown reservation
–
No 0/105/0/1
MPown reservation
–
No 0/18/0/0
Cown reservation
–
No 0/24/0/0
L
–
Yes 16/0/0/0
KD
–
Yes 19/0/0/0
M
–
Yes 66/0/0/0
SD
–
Yes 70/0/0/0
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
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