Sweden bans extraction of coal, oil and natural gas
Stockholm, Sweden - The Swedish government is tightening environmental legislation and banning the extraction of fossil fuels in the country. The ban covers the extraction of hard coal, lignite, crude oil, shale oil as well as natural gas in Sweden and will come into force on 1 July 2022. Uranium mining will also be banned, and stricter rules will apply to the extraction of alum shale.
"We are tightening environmental legislation by banning the extraction of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. Breaking the entire chain of fossil fuel dependence, from extraction to use, is crucial for Sweden to continue to be a leader in the climate transition,” says Minister for Climate and the Environment Annika Strandhäll.
Karl-Petter Thorwaldsson, Minister for Business, Industry and Innovation adds: "The green and digital transitions will create more jobs and require more metals and minerals.Sweden will also lead the way and ban the extraction of coal, oil and natural gas, and tighten the rules for extraction from alum shale to play our part in the climate transition."
The bill in Sweden proposes amendments to the Swedish Environmental Code and the Minerals Act. The amendments include a ban on the extraction of coal, lignite, crude oil, shale oil and natural gas in the same way that has been done with uranium, as well as tighter rules for extraction from alum shale.
Source: IWR Online, 15 Jun 2022
