Europe’s urgent drive to secure critical minerals for the green transition and energy security is colliding with the rights and culture of the Sámi people in Norway and Sweden. Rich in copper, lithium, and other essential metals, Sámi territories are now the focus of a European mining rush—but Indigenous communities are pushing back to defend their environment and livelihoods.
Repparfjord: Arctic Copper Mine Sparks Protests
In Repparfjord, Arctic Norway, activists and youth organizations have occupied and delayed operations at a local copper mine, critical for electric vehicles, solar panels, wind turbines, and power grids. Among them is Isak Greger Eriksen of Natur og Ungdom, who recently discovered his Sámi roots. “We support the green transition, but not at the expense of human and Indigenous rights or nature,” he says.
The mine, Nussir, located in the Sápmi region, received government approval despite strong opposition from Sámi reindeer herders and fishermen. Classified as an EU strategic project, Nussir promises to be fully electrified with zero emissions and will produce around 14,000 tonnes of copper annually.
However, the first blasting work sparked protests over activities outside the permitted area, halting operations temporarily. Activists remain determined, chaining themselves to machinery and drawing global attention to the mine’s social and environmental risks, particularly the potential contamination from mine tailings affecting local fisheries and traditional Sea Sámi livelihoods.
Kiruna: Sweden’s Mining Expansion and Sámi Displacement
In Kiruna, Sweden, the Per Geijer project faces similar tensions. Managed by state-owned LKAB, the mine threatens to split Sámi reindeer migration paths and disrupt cultural practices, while causing ground subsidence that has already forced the relocation of key infrastructure, including the town’s historic church. Sámi representatives argue that mining expansion continues a long history of land sacrifice for industrial benefit, leaving Indigenous communities with diminishing control over their territories.
Europe’s Mineral Imperative
The EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) identifies 34 minerals, including lithium, cobalt, and rare earths, as essential for energy security, digital infrastructure, and defense technologies. By 2030, the EU aims to extract 10% of its strategic minerals domestically, process 40%, and recycle 25%, requiring a dramatic increase in mining projects.
Europe’s dependence on China and Russia for critical minerals heightens the pressure for domestic extraction. However, projects like Nussir and Per Geijer reveal the challenge of balancing geopolitical and environmental priorities with Indigenous rights and local opposition.
Indigenous Rights and Legal Gaps
International law and OECD guidelines emphasize free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) for Indigenous communities, yet the CRMA does not fully mandate it. In Sweden, proposed FPIC requirements were removed after political opposition, highlighting the tension between fast-tracking strategic projects and respecting Sámi rights.
Activists and human rights analysts warn that without transparent consultation and enforcement of human rights, mining projects risk deepening social conflicts. The Arctic is also experiencing rapid climate change, further straining Sámi livelihoods and grazing lands.
The Path Forward: Dialogue and Responsible Mining
Experts argue that constructive dialogue with Indigenous communities is essential to reconcile Europe’s green and energy transition goals with cultural preservation. Fast-tracked mining without adequate consultation risks long-term conflict between states, local populations, and the EU.
Bard Bergfeld, a Swedish mining board member, notes: “Metals must be mined to transform society from a fossil-based economy to a metal-based economy. But how we do it matters as much as why.”
As NATO activities increase in the Arctic and geopolitical pressures mount, Europe’s approach to mining must integrate human rights, environmental protection, and strategic security. Respecting Sámi culture and the environment is not a luxury—it is a strategic imperative for sustainable energy independence.
