In Kamlunge, uranium has become an election issue: “Will we be netting glowing fish?”

“Will we be netting glowing fish in the future?” Kjell Rönnbäck asks as he drives his six-wheeled vehicle through Kamlunge. His grim joke reflects the tension that has settled along the Kalix River, where traditional fishing has become intertwined with Sweden’s renewed debate over uranium mining.

Rönnbäck demonstrates sikhåvning, a traditional form of net fishing passed down among residents in the area. This summer, quiet fishing sessions have alternated with heated discussions after a letter from Bergsstaten, the authority that decides on mineral exploration and extraction under Sweden’s Minerals Act.

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Will we be netting glowing fish in the future?

The American company Edelheid Holdings LLC plans to search in Kamlunge for uranium, yttrium, copper, nickel and cobalt. Sweden’s government wants more of the country’s mineral deposits extracted to strengthen competitiveness in global markets. Energy and Business Minister Ebba Busch has said that those who take climate issues seriously and want more jobs must learn to embrace mining.

The government’s new national minerals strategy, presented in July, says uranium can be extracted as a primary material or as a byproduct of metal production. Sweden’s ban on uranium mining ended at the turn of the year, and municipalities no longer have a veto.

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I was shocked when the letter came.

For Rönnbäck, the prospect of a mine threatens a way of life. He says the exploration area extends on both sides of the river and that residents might have to move if a mine is built. The fish gather in hollows in the riverbed sediment on their way to spawning grounds upstream, where Rönnbäck casts his net near the roar of Kamlunge Rapids.

Anders Söderholm, from a neighboring village, says he first fished with rod and casting tackle as a boy before taking up net fishing. He initially thought the uranium plans were a joke. Two exploration permits cover Kamlunge and Pålänge in Kalix municipality.

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The river is part of our identity.

Municipal Commissioner Susanne Andersson of the Social Democrats says the river is part of the community’s identity. She is concerned about fishing, outdoor life, tourism and water quality, and says the municipality must reject exploration, test drilling and mining. Kalix has appealed, arguing that the plans conflict with its comprehensive plan, which prioritizes riverside rural areas, recreation, cultural environments, tourism, Natura 2000 protections and water supplies.

Andersson acknowledges that her party supports nuclear power, but says the proposed site is unsuitable because the river is one of Sweden’s four national rivers and a Natura 2000 area with protected cultural and natural environments.

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The site is, of course, completely unsuitable for a mine.