Kallak mine

The proposed Kallak mine is a controversial plan to exploit one of the largest unexploited iron ore deposits in Sweden.

The name has later been wrongfully distorted into Gállok) is located on an island in the hydropower-regulated Little Lule River between the (non-Sami) villages of Björkholmen and Randijaur in the municipality of Jokkmokk in the province of Norrbotten in northern Sweden.

Beowulf Mining acquired the Kallak north licence in 2006, and a drill program conducted in 2010 has found at least 175 Mt of Iron at an average grade of 30%.

[citation needed] In mid-2010 an independent conceptual study performed by the Raw Materials Group showed that the Kallak north deposit, which at the time was thought to contain 150 million tonnes of iron at 30% grading, was commercially viable.

[19] This consultation paper gives the company's view and mentions a number of potential impacts of the proposed mining project.

These include impacts on the landscape, noise, vibrations, air quality, groundwater, surface water, reindeer husbandry, natural environment, cultural environment, conservation of natural resources, communications, outdoor recreation, hunting and fishing, powerlines, total defence, hydropower, and the World Heritage Site Laponia.

According to the local visitors of the public consultation held by the company on 15th October 2024 in Jokkmokk[20] there were general but no specific information on the project.

The plans to establish a mine at the site have met resistance from the indigenous Sámi people as well as other local inhabitants and have also raised concerns in regard to dam safety, within the hydro power regulated Lule River.

In Sweden this would be the first time such a combination is made, and thereby this would be a full-scale experiment with major risks for people and drinking water provision downstream, amongst other the cities of Boden and Luleå.

[36] Despite the protests, on March 22, 2022, the Swedish Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications, under a set of environmental protection-related conditions, gave a permission to Beowulf to proceed with the mining project.