Last Updated on May 22, 2026
Indigenous Sámi (Saami) leaders in northern Sweden say a new mining project backed by the European Union will disrupt their reindeer herding practices and undermine their cultural survival.
The concerns follow an approval that was granted to the Australian-based firm Talga Group and its Nunasvaara South graphite project in the Arctic region of Sápmi, the traditional homeland of the Sámi peoples.
The project has moved forward after Sweden’s Supreme Court dismissed appeals from Sámi communities and environmental groups challenging the permits.
Sámi representatives argue the consultation process was inadequate and failed to meet international standards like the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
“By fast-tracking these mining projects with an expedited 27-month permitting process, the EU prioritises resource extraction over our fundamental rights to free, prior and informed consent,” said the Saami Council, a non-governmental entity made up of nine Sámi member organizations.
The Sámi also raised concerns about environmental safeguards, saying the project would fragment grazing lands and disrupt ecosystems central to reindeer herding.
The mine will utilize 149 hectares of Sámi land to extract more than 100 tons of graphite ore per year.
Reindeer husbandry is a cornerstone of Sámi culture and economy that relies on seasonal migration routes across vast landscapes. Mining infrastructure, including roads and industrial activity, can block these routes and reduce access to pasture, making traditional herding increasingly difficult.
“According to the Saami Council the company plans to share the mining area with reindeer herders for six months of the year, leaving parts of Sámi grazing lands unusable while disturbing Sápmi habitats and rivers with air pollution,” reports the National Indigenous Times.
A recent report on ScienceDirect notes that mining for critical materials on Sámi lands threatens to add to cumulative pressures already facing Sámi communities, increasing uncertainty for herders whose livelihoods depend on stable ecological conditions.
The Talga Group maintains that their mining project can coexist with Sámi traditional land use, claiming that it has redesigned aspects of the mine to reduce its environmental impact. Talga also disputes claims that it will cause significant harm.
Graphite mining and processing is known to cause notable environmental damage, including air and water pollution, habitat destruction and high greenhouse gas emissions.
The dispute reflects a broader global tension as governments accelerate the extraction of so-called “critical minerals” used in renewable energy systems, digital devices and modern defense technologies.
The European Union has designated several mining projects in northern Sweden as strategic, aiming to support the green transition and reduce the reliance on imported resources.
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