2024-02-22 18:10:00
The Swedish city of Kirunafounded approximately 125 years, is slowly sinking due to mining exploitation and that is why the local authorities organized a plan to gradually vacate the city and move every last building. This story served as inspiration for the new success of Netflix “The Abyss of Kiruna”released on the platform on February 16.
The film revolves around Frigga (Tuva Novotny), responsible for the largest mine in the world, Crane dangerlocated north of Sweden. With the beginning of the sinking of the city and the problems that affect the mine, the protagonist will face a dilemma between her family and her job as head of security at the mine.
Kiruna, the city that is sinking and must move to survive
The film premiered in theaters in Sweden on November 15, 2023 and arrived on Netflix for the entire world last Friday, February 16. During 103 minutesthe plot addresses relevant topics such as mining exploitationthe environmental impacts and social consequences of industrial activity in a community.
The true story of Kiruna, the sinking Swedish city
Sweden is the largest producer of iron in Europasupplying the 90% of the market. Kiruna is the city that extracts most of this mineral within the country, with the largest and most advanced underground mine in the world. However, the drilling caused different problems in the city located 160 kilometers from the Arctic Circle.
The cracks caused by the subterranean mine undermined the soil of the residential area of the town, so they began to weaken structures, generating sinking in the metropolitan center of the city and frightening the neighbors due to the danger of collapse.
In turn, the mining company LKAB reported that in the vicinity of Kiruna what might be the largest reserve of rare earth of Europe. This territory would house some “585 million tons of mineral, with at least one million tons of praseodymium or neodymium oxides,” as announced in several journalistic articles.
Las rare earthas they are known, are fundamental components in the manufacture of electronics devices, household appliances, nanotechnology, lighting systems, liquid crystal displays and mobile devices, among other products. Rare earth deposits have reportedly been identified in several European countries, mainly in the Scandinavian nations.
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According to Ebba BuschSwedish Minister of Energy, Trade and Industry, mining of these lands may not begin until within 10 or 15 yearsbut would have the potential to boost electrification and self-sufficiency of both the European Union like from China. Currently, many European countries rely heavily on China and Russia for rare earth materials.
Kiruna’s “building by building” move
Because of the potential that lies beneath the feet of Kirunathe authorities decided to start a megaproject to move the population and buildings to three kilometers from where it is locatedallowing extractions to advance through the town without posing a risk to the inhabitants.
Although it is considered that extraction will not begin in the coming years, the process of relocation will try to carry out in a staggered manner, with the intention of avoiding unnecessary trouble. Likewise, those responsible ensure that the move will be carried out meticulously, with the aim of minimizing any negative impact.
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In addition, it will have some unique characteristics. Instead of building new homes, it will move “building by building, wall by wall”, as the officials explained. The part-by-part transfer will include buildings such as the local Lutheran church, erected in 1912 and declared a historical monument, but also private homes.
The inhabitants of Kiruna, who currently They total around 23,000, received this decision positively. But they demanded that the new city include more pedestrian areas and green spaces. It is expected that the future city, which will encompass approximately 450,000 square metersbe fully functional by 2035.
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