Europe's biggest iron ore project, Gruvberget in Svappavaara, is now open. Under sunny skies, LKAB's president Lars-Eric Aaro and Kiruna's municipal commissioner Kenneth Stålnacke together fired the first round to inaugurate LKAB's first new iron ore mine in 50 years. A significant blast that will have resounding effects for LKAB and the orefields communities.

LKAB plans to open three iron ore mines in the Svappavaara field over the coming years. Gruvberget is the first. The other two are Leveäniemi and Mertainen. Ore from the three mines will enable LKAB to boost annual production of finished products to 37 million tonnes. This will allow LKAB to keep pace with the growth of its customers.

LKAB is investing about 240 million swedish kronor in the project, and the Gruvberget deposit holds an estimated 25 million tonnes of magnetite, which will now be mined in an open pit. Gruvberget also holds about 50 million tonnes of hematite ore, but this will not be mined for the time being.

The festivities began around midday near the restaurant Gruvköket in Svappavaara. Celebrations had been arranged with the help of local non-profit organizations Svappavaara PRO, AIF and Fritidsföreningen. The whole school was out in force, and many Svappavaara residents and specially invited guests were in attendance to help LKAB mark the occasion. Some 200-300 hundred people enjoyed a barbecue lunch under a sunny sky that had cleared just in time for the inaugural blast.

The crowd joined in the countdown; 10-9-8-7-6-5..., and when they reached zero, LKAB president Lars-Eric Aaro and Kiruna municipal commissioner Kenneth Stålnacke together pressed down on the large plunger on the blast box. Parts of Gruvberget were momentarily uplifted and a dull boom was heard as far away as Gruvköket. Mining has now officially commenced and the operation will be managed by LKAB subsidiary KGS.

The school choir sang a specially composed Svappavaara song and the festivities continued until mid-afternoon. Guided tours of the mine site were then given.

In summary, a bright day in Svappavaara and a bright day for LKAB and the future.

Photos here