The mining company Viscaria and Laevas sameby have entered into a cooperation agreement regarding the Viscaria mine in Kiruna.
The agreement means that Laevas will be compensated for the impact of the mining operations on reindeer herding in the Viscaria area. Furthermore, Laevas will withdraw its appeal of Viscaria's environmental permit issued by the Land and Environment Court.
"I am very pleased that we have reached an agreement and we look forward to cooperating with Laevas sameby to create good conditions for both mining operations and reindeer herding. We will continue our work to be able to reopen the mine in 2026," says Jörgen Olsson, CEO of Viscaria in a press release.
The agreement is valid for 15 years and can be extended by the parties thereafter, although Laevas has the right to terminate the agreement prematurely.
"Laevas sameby has made a big and difficult decision today and chosen to enter into a cooperation agreement with Viscaria. We look forward to a good dialogue with the company going forward," says Niila Inga, chairman of Laevas sameby in the press release.
