What is an urban transformation, and why are significant parts of Malmberget now being dismantled?

Ore mining started in 1741 on the mountain Illuvaara, which later came to be known as Malmberget. The first ore train was loaded in 1888, which was the beginning of the big ore rush that laid the foundation for how the entire ore field region looks today.

In today's Malmberget, LKAB's iron ore mining occurs underground, just a bit north of the community. But the ore bodies tilt in a south-westerly direction and affect the Malmberget. It is a substantial activity that has shaped and promoted the municipality's development. As LKAB has expanded the mining of the ore bodies that spread out under the urban area, parts of the Malmberget have been gradually demolished or moved.

It is an ongoing urban transformation that has affected the citizens of Gällivare municipality for approximately 50 years. During the 21st century, the pace of the transformation has increased considerably, and ever-larger areas have been affected.

Now, we have reached the point where mining has become so widespread that we can see the end of Malmberget's history as a community. In recent years, large parts of Malmberget have been decommissioned in various stages.

In Malmberget, approximately 1,900 homes and several municipal functions such as sports halls, nursing homes, ice rinks, and high schools are affected. About 3,200 people will need new housing, and about 74,000 square meters of public premises must be replaced before 2032. Housing and public buildings are being replaced and built up in Gällivare.