Sweden plans faster mining permits to reduce reliance on China

Sweden said on 23 July 2026 that it wants to speed up mining permit approvals to help the European Union reduce its dependence on China, which accounts for 70 percent of rare earth mining worldwide.

Sweden is the EU's leading producer of iron ore and has known deposits of graphite, cobalt, rare metals and phosphate minerals. Energy Minister Ebba Busch said the country receives only one percent of global investment in exploration for base and critical metals despite its mineral resources.

Busch, outlining the government's new national mining strategy, said Sweden must become a leading mining nation. She said Stockholm intends to streamline approval procedures so decisions can be made more quickly. The government also plans to create a new environmental impact assessment authority so companies face a more consistent process.

Busch said the government would examine how the state can help fund projects that would do the most to support national self-sufficiency. It also plans to direct a larger share of mining taxes and royalties to local authorities in mining areas. The source said that revenue currently goes into state coffers.

Several mining projects are under consideration in Sweden, but many face delays linked to local opposition and environmental concerns. Mining group LKAB is examining a rare-earth deposit on land inhabited by Sami people in northern Sweden and estimates that obtaining a permit could take 10 years.

The EU adopted legislation in 2024 intended to reduce reliance on China for raw materials. It also introduced 47 strategic projects, four of them in Sweden.