The Kiruna municipal Environment and Building Administration has taken actions against LKAB due to the risk faced by certain buildings designated as culturally significant. In a recently sent letter, the management has indicated the necessity for immediate measures to prevent irreversible damage to these structures, which are at risk of being distorted. This matter is part of the ongoing urban transformation in Kiruna, a city that has been undergoing extensive changes due to mining activities in the area.

As per the ultimatum presented to LKAB, the mining company must either relocate the threatened buildings or dismantle them while awaiting future relocation. Failure to comply before the end of the year will result in a hefty fine of 100 million Swedish kronor per building. Kristoffer Johansson, the building permit chief, elaborated that the fines have been set at this elevated level to ensure that the company is sufficiently motivated to execute the required actions and also to accommodate the economic situation of the involved parties.

This situation is just one of many developments concerning the buildings at risk due to deformations, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by Kiruna as it reconciles urban development with the preservation of its cultural heritage. As LKAB continues its operations, it remains to be seen how these demands will affect not only the company but the local community and the physical landscape of Kiruna itself.