Background & Purpose

Previously, mining nuclear materials required a more complex and separate approval process compared to other minerals. The government wants to simplify this to support the green transition and increase the supply of critical metals.

The Decision

The parliament decided to treat the mining and processing of nuclear materials like other mining activities, which removes the need for special government and municipal approval.

Does this affect you?

  • Mining companies: They will face a more predictable and streamlined permit process when planning to extract or process nuclear materials.
  • Local municipalities: They lose their specific right to veto projects involving the extraction or processing of nuclear materials.

In Practice

  • Uranium mining will follow the same standard permit process as other mining operations.
  • The government will no longer need to perform a special 'admissibility assessment' for these specific facilities.
  • Municipalities will no longer have the power to veto these mining projects.
  • The new rules aim to make the process more predictable for companies and authorities.