Uranium mining concerns in Kalix - landowners protest test drilling

"Stop the test drilling in Kalix" is written on an A4 paper stapled to the local notice board in the village of Pålänge outside Kalix.

The mining state has granted two exploration permits for, among other things, uranium, and a concern for poisoned water and environmental damage has taken root.

Despite the fact that it is still at an early stage, several Kalix residents are already raising their voices against a possible mine establishment. Among other things, the action group "No to the uranium mine in Kalix" held a demonstration on Saturday.

Landowners protest

The government wants to enable uranium mining to reduce import dependence and strengthen the domestic energy supply of nuclear fuel. The veto for individual municipalities to stop a potential mine has been removed.

The fact that Minister of Food and Energy Ebba Busch (KD) has promised that it will pay off to live near a mine and that they are looking at expanding the mineral compensation for landowners does not affect the opinions of the opponents.

- I wouldn't care if I got a billion, if I could say no, I would, says Marie Karlsson, who owns part of the land within one of the survey permits.

When SVT visits the village of Pålänge, Karlsson takes us to the edge of the exploration area. Among other things, the red-listed knee-root orchid grows there together with the norna and the cuckoo - important signal species for forests worthy of protection with high biological diversity.

- Where there are knee roots, there is a fine old forest. It has a very strong protection because it is protected.