Background information

The ban on extraction of several fossil energy sources is primarily described as a measure to reduce emissions. It is also seen as a vehicle with which more resources can be made available for extraction of minerals that is necessary for the green conversion. The amendment passed the parliament four years after it approved a bill that prohibits uranium mining.

Content of measure

The amendment of the environment code [1998:808] and the mineral law [1991:45] prohibits any extraction of oil, coal and natural gas in Sweden. Applications to set up such activitites will not be granted by Swedish authorities after the bill is introduced. The bill also means that the listed minerals will lose the status as so called concession minerals that are considered to be vital for industry and society. Besides applying to oil, coal and natural gas, it also incudes new rules that would limit alum shale extraction. Extraction for some research purposes is however excepted. Specifically, the bill will allow the extraction and storing of the equivalent of 100,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Use of measure

The amendment has been criticized for being symbolic since there are very few operations in Sweden dealing with the minerals it adresses. In May 2022, only one company had an extraction permit for natural gas whereas a handful where, mainly, prospecting for natural gas. No company has neither prospected nor extracted any of the types of coal that is listed in the bill.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Larger corporations	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	No special funding required

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Consulted	Consulted
Form	Direct consultation outside a formal body	Direct consultation outside a formal body

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: Regional or local level

Involvement

The measure underwent a round of consultations

Views and reactions

The trade association, Svemin, that gathers mining companies in Sweden has criticized the bill, claiming it will make it harder to extract essential minerals. One example of this is the suggested limitation of which biproducts of mining that companies can use. By removing coal form the list of concession minerals, companies need to treat it as waste, ehch in turn will increase the ecohazards associated with mining and the costs. Svemin clais that the latter could mean that mining for essential minerals will be unprofitable.

Sectors and occupations

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

• 19 May 2022: Förbud mot utvinning av kol, olja och naturgas och skärpta regler för utvinning i alunskiffer (www.riksdagen.se)
• 31 May 2022: Sverige stoppar utvinning av olja, kol och gas (www.svd.se)