Sweden's parliament is expected to vote Wednesday to legalize uranium mining. The country banned uranium extraction in 2018 but now considers it a strategically important mineral.
Municipalities will lose their power to veto uranium mining projects. This change creates concern among residents and local politicians in Vilhelmina.
Energy Minister Ebba Busch strongly supports the proposal. But her own party member in Vilhelmina opposes the move. Max Fredriksson serves as the Christian Democrat opposition councilor there.
He said in a statement that the municipal veto matters greatly to them. Removing this protection feels strange, he added.
The Sweden Democrats party supports uranium mining but wants government guarantees. They seek environmental protections and restoration plans for mining sites.
Eric Axelsson serves as a municipal council member for the Sweden Democrats. He said the government invested heavily in nuclear power expansion. Domestic uranium supply becomes necessary for self-sufficiency, he explained.
The policy shift reflects Sweden's push for energy independence through nuclear power. But local communities face losing control over major industrial decisions in their regions.