The Swedish government has announced a draft law to reauthorise uranium mining within its borders, with the measure expected to take effect in 2026. The initiative aims to reduce Sweden’s dependence on imports of critical raw materials and strengthen long-term energy security. This move aligns with the government’s plan to revive the nuclear sector in response to projected increases in electricity demand.
According to the Geological Survey of Sweden, the country holds approximately 27% of Europe’s known uranium resources. The government intends to leverage this potential to enhance national autonomy in fueling its six operational nuclear reactors, located across three sites, with a combined capacity of 6.9 GW. Uranium mining was banned in Sweden in 2018 due to concerns about soil and water pollution risks, as well as the high extraction costs at the time. Since then, Sweden has primarily imported uranium from Canada, Australia, Kazakhstan, and Namibia.
The draft law is expected to be passed by Parliament in January 2026. Nuclear power accounted for around 30% of Sweden’s electricity generation in 2023, and the country plans to triple its nuclear capacity by 2045.
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