Clearance for Kaunis Iron

Pajala The Land and Environment Court of Appeal upholds the Land and Environment Court's authorisation for continued iron ore mining in Pajala in northern Norrbotten.

The judgement applies to existing mining operations at the Tapuli mine and expanded mining operations at the new mines in the same area, Palotieva and Sahavaara.

However, the Court of Appeal has made some restrictions for Kaunis Iron. It does not grant the mining company an enforcement order, which may delay the timetable for the new mines in Palotieva and Sahavaara.

There are also more steps to be taken before the planned mining is fully ready.

"Even with a favourable court ruling, the decision needs to become legally binding and the market situation needs to support investment before new open-pit mines can be opened. In the meantime, mining production in Tapuli will continue according to the current plan until the end of December 2027," says Hans Djurberg, Sustainability Manager at Kaunis Iron.

If the judgement is appealed, a final judgement could come at the earliest at the end of 2025.

Lennart Håkansson

editor@northswedenbusiness.com