Publications

Survey of Energy Resources 2007

Uranium Country Notes

Sweden

Exploration for uranium was carried out from 1950 until 1985, when low world prices for the metal brought domestic prospecting to a halt. Four principal uranium provinces were identified, two in south/central Sweden and two in the north. Interest in exploration has revived recently, with the Canadian corporation Mawson Resources Ltd obtaining several concession areas. In April 2007 Mawson reported that drilling had commenced at its Tasjo and Klappibacken projects.

Sweden's proved reserves are reported as 4 000 tonnes of RAR recoverable at less than US$ 130/kgU, with additional amounts recoverable comprising 6 000 tonnes of IR in the same cost bracket.

There are substantial unconventional resources of uranium in alum shale, but the deposits are of very low grade and recovery costs would exceed US$ 130/kgU. During the 1960s, a total of about 200 tonnes of uranium was recovered from alum shale deposits at Ranstad, in the Billingen district of Västergötland, southern Sweden. This mining complex has now been rehabilitated, the open pit being transformed into a lake and the tailings area treated to prevent the formation of acid.