LKAB: New vision for Kiirunavaara mining industry area

Ecogain has on behalf of LKAB developed a vision for how the mining area in Kiruna will be restored and developed after the mining operations have been discontinued. The focus of the vision is an ecological landscape design. By creating natural environments similar to surrounding landscapes, reindeer husbandry, biodiversity and other ecosystem services will benefit.

"Developing a vision for land restoration around the Kiruna mine is a dream assignment that we have been working on since spring 2019. Iron ore has been mined in the rock for over 100 years, and now we have taken out the direction of how the area should be restored in the best way on the day the mine closes." - Sara Carlsén, project manager, Ecogain.

Ecogain is a strategic partner to LKAB and plays a key role in developing the mining company's work on natural capital such as biodiversity and ecosystem services.

"Companies that use land have great opportunities to both minimize their impact on nature and create new value. This will become increasingly important everywhere on earth. So it's great that LKAB is at the forefront." - Anders Enetjärn, CEO Ecogain.

The vision that has now been developed is a voluntary commitment from LKAB and is based on the company's guidelines for sustainable land use. When the mine is closed, technical reclamation will be carried out to make the area safe for the environment, people and animals. The ecological landscaping will then begin.

"With this vision, we can create major benefits for nature and society when ecosystems can be restored and developed. This in turn means that, for example, biodiversity benefits, water purification is improved and the land can be used for grazing and resting places for reindeer herding." - Emma Nyberg, development engineer project manager, LKAB.