The country is politically stable and has excellent infrastructure, ranked second within Europe, with extensive public investment ensuring the maintenance of the country’s network of roads, railways and waterways.

Sweden is one of the European Union’s leading producers of ore, it has 16 mines in operation, producing 80 million tonnes of ore ranging from iron and gold to rare earth elements. The country is estimated to produce 120 million tonnes of ore by 2020. The country was ranked sixteenth in the world for investment attractiveness (a combination of policy and mineral potential) by the Fraser Institute in 2016.

Sweden has implemented a five-stage strategic plan to bring the country’s mining industry into the modern era. The strategy aims to create a harmonious, communicative, competitive, innovative and internationally renowned mining industry.

The government’s minerals act (1991) currently taxes any mining project at the country standard of 28 per cent, with no special tax for mining activities. To complete any exploration or exploitation a license must be required, the maximum period for these licenses are 15 and 25 years respectively.