Boliden’s Aitik copper mine has been granted a renewed environmental allow by the Swedish Land and Surroundings Courtroom. The allow covers continued manufacturing of as much as 45 Mt of ore per 12 months, together with permitted strategies for dam elevating and up to date water administration practices. The information comes the identical day that LKAB introduced that its Malmberget iron ore mine has additionally been granted a allow continued and expanded operations by the identical court docket.
Aitik is one in all Europe’s largest copper producers and performs an important function in supplying the important metals wanted for society’s inexperienced transition. Boliden says this determination strengthens its skill to offer the metals for generations to return.
Space Supervisor Tomas Eriksson Ek said: “This allow brings clear duties – ones we’re prepared to satisfy by means of security, environmental duty, and steady enchancment. Key highlights of the allow along with the operational continuity at 45 Mt/y embody approval for enhanced water administration and modified dam-raising strategies, guaranteeing a strict concentrate on security, stability, and environmental efficiency; plus secured storage for waste rock and tailings at present stockpiles.
In 2025, Aitik reported a decrease milled quantity, 12 months on 12 months, effectively beneath its designed capability. Arduous to grind ore containing diorite had a damaging influence. Aitik’s mine manufacturing (waste rock and ore), then again, reached a brand new annual report. Elevated waste rock manufacturing is important to extend Aitik’s future milled manufacturing. For Q1 2026, recoveries elevated versus the identical interval final 12 months on account of much less oxidised ore. In abstract, manufacturing of copper in focus was decrease than the earlier quarter however increased 12 months on 12 months. The manufacturing of gold in focus was decrease than the earlier quarter however increased than the primary quarter of 2025. Mine manufacturing (waste rock and ore) remained at a excessive stage, considerably increased than the primary quarter 2025.
Trying forward, in February 2025, the Swedish Chief Mining Inspector granted a mining concession for the Nautanen copper deposit, near Aitik. Along with copper, the mining concession consists of molybdenum, silver and gold. The mining concession was appealed however this was rejected in Might 2026. An environmental allow can be required earlier than any mining actions may be carried out. “Copper is classed as a strategic uncooked materials and demand is barely anticipated to extend. Nautanen is likely one of the bigger recognized copper deposits in Sweden. If the deposit may be extracted, it might enhance Sweden and the EU’s provide of this strategically necessary steel,” stated Minister for Vitality and Enterprise Ebba Busch.
In January 2026, Boliden additionally stated it had utilized to the European Fee to designate the Nautanen deposit as a strategic mission underneath the Vital Uncooked Supplies Act. The Nautanen copper deposit is situated in central Norrbotten, about 15 km northwest of Aitik copper mine. Earlier research and exploration outcomes point out that there’s a potential for a underground mine as a satellite tv for pc to Aitik, the place present industrial infrastructure corresponding to mill and tailings facility can be utilized. Boliden sees the potential to put money into an underground mine together with an entrance ramp to enter the mine from distance to minimise environmental footprint.
The conceptual annual manufacturing of extracted uncooked materials in Nautanen is roughly 2-3 Mt per 12 months, with a lifetime of mine plan round 20 years. Feasibility research of the deposit are nonetheless ongoing and can outline the ultimate operation. Relying on permits, which aren’t but obtained, manufacturing is estimated to start in early 2030s.
