According to the SEI report, how does LKAB's Per Geijer mine project risk violating Sami indigenous rights?

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) report states that LKAB's Per Geijer mine project 'carries a significant risk of violating the indigenous rights of the Sami community members' and would breach Sweden's duties under the United Nations' International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the U.N.'s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; specifically, the mine would prevent Sami reindeer-herders from moving their reindeer between winter and summer pastures, threatening their traditional way of life.

What is the significance of the Per Geijer deposit for the EU and Sweden's industrial strategy?

Per Geijer — with 1.2 billion tonnes of total mineral resources, including 2.2 million tonnes of rare earth oxides — is one of Europe's biggest rare earth finds and is designated a 'strategic project' by the EU to reduce reliance on China for rare earths critical to clean energy, defence, and electric vehicle production; Sweden's government supports it as part of its goal to lead a new 'green' industrial age in Europe and is cutting red tape for new mines, while LKAB calls it crucial for the long-term viability of the Kiruna mine, the world's largest underground iron ore mine.

LKAB Plan for Swedish Rare Earths Mine Could Breach Sami Rights, Report Says

Apr 14, 2026

A Stockholm Environment Institute report warns that LKAB's Per Geijer rare earths mine may violate Sami rights, potentially delaying the EU's strategic project designed to secure critical minerals for clean energy and defense.

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