The Making of Interior Resource Frontiers for Green Resource Extraction : The Case of Rare Earth Element extraction at Norra Kärr, South Sweden

Sammanfattning

In recent years, global efforts to transition to renewable energy sources have significantly increased raw material demands, especially for those that are utilized in green technologies such as electric batteries, wind- and solar power. At the same time, the turbulent geopolitical landscape has created uncertainty around the supply chain security of those precious minerals. In response,initiatives such as the European Union’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) have been introduced. These developments have prompted Western countriesto shift their focus inwards to satisfy their needs through the creation of resource frontiers in their interior, resulting in contestations around those spaces of extraction. Using the proposed Rare Earth Element (REE) mine in Norra Kärr, in Southern Sweden as a case study, this thesis examines this argument from its historical and world-spanning context to the local. In this examination the theoretical frameworks of chain of explanation will be utilized to examine the global influences on the proposed mine development and frame analysis will be utilised to examine how the mine is being justified and opposed. Through literature review, field research and interviews the debate around the mine is contextualized and the growing pressures on the Swedish regulatory frameworks are highlighted. The findings indicate that although these contestations will increase in the future, several steps can be taken to establish a more responsible mining industry that will respect local communities and environments while achieving the mandates of the green transition.