The Relocation Process

Kiruna’s city centre is being rebuilt a few kilometres away to make room for the expanding underground mine. One‑third of the town—about 6,000 residents—must leave their homes. The most visible symbol of the move is the 672‑ton wooden church, which was lifted onto large metal beams, placed on maneuverable trailers, and driven at a crawl of 0.5 km/h to its new foundation. LKAB, the state‑owned mining company, covers the €45 million cost of the church relocation, yet many locals describe the whole effort as a demolition or “war zone.”

Social and Economic Impact

Daily life in Kiruna is being upended. Schools close or relocate, forcing children to change schools repeatedly. Cultural institutions such as the Tusen Toner music club are being torn down without clear replacement plans, and residents say the new city design feels artificial and stripped of the old town’s character. The mine is the primary employer and is described as being in the “DNA of the city,” but many feel the relocation offers little local benefit while the mine continues to dominate the regional economy.

Mining Operations and Strategic Goals

The mine is the world’s largest underground iron‑ore operation, with 500 km of tunnels extending to a depth of 1,365 m. It produces enough ore each day to build six and a half Eiffel Towers. A new 9 km tunnel is being blasted to reach a deposit rich in phosphorus and rare‑earth elements. By extracting these critical minerals, the operation aims to reduce Europe’s dependence on China and Russia, positioning the mine as a key player in the continent’s strategic resource security.

Indigenous Conflict

For the Sami people, the mine’s expansion blocks essential reindeer migration corridors. Reindeer graze in the mountains during summer and move to lowlands in winter, but the mine creates a physical barrier that restricts these seasonal movements. Indigenous leaders argue that they have had little influence over land‑use decisions, raising human‑rights concerns about inadequate consultation and the erosion of traditional livelihoods.

Mechanisms Behind the Move

• Church Relocation: Engineers excavated around the foundation, supported the building on large metal beams, and placed it on adjustable trailers that could change angle and height during transport.
• Mining Extraction: Underground blasting releases ore, after which autonomous robots called Spea inspect tunnels for safety before human‑operated excavators continue work.
• Reindeer Migration: The mine’s footprint interrupts the natural summer‑to‑winter migration route, limiting the animals’ access to grazing grounds and threatening the Sami’s way of life.