Sweden is becoming increasingly dependent on imported lime, despite our good conditions for domestic mining. One of the country’s most important deposits is in Stucks on Gotland, which the Swedish Geological Survey (SGU) has classified as a national interest. Despite this, SMA Mineral has been denied continued extraction of the high-quality limestone.
“It is unreasonable and illogical that we are forced to import large quantities of lime when we have high-quality limestone at home,” says Svante Fielding, CEO of SMA Mineral.
Lime is a critical raw material that plays a crucial role in important societal functions such as water treatment, housing construction, infrastructure and industrial processes. Stucks limestone is characterized by its high purity, making it particularly sought after by the steel industry. When extraction was stopped from Stucks, SMA Mineral has had to import lime from southern Europe on over 1000 ships to cover its needs. For Sweden as a country, imports have been even greater.
There are also plans to establish a national park directly adjacent to the limestone quarry. SMA Mineral, with its long experience of limestone mining on Gotland, welcomes the investment in nature conservation but emphasizes the importance of ensuring Sweden’s need for critical raw materials.
To discuss this, three Moderate MPs will visit Stucks on Monday, February 3. SMA looks forward to welcoming Mats Green (M), group leader of the Moderate Party in the Committee on Economic Affairs, as well as Jesper Skalberg (M) and Magnus Resare (M) to raise this crucial issue for the future.
“We want to have an objective discussion on how we can reconcile nature conservation with a sustainable and responsible extraction of this critical raw material,” said Svante Fielding.
Contact for further information
Frida Jakobsson
Press Officer SMA Mineral
Phone: 070-232 05 22
SMA Mineral AB
Box 329
682 27 Filipstad
SWEDEN
