Sweden and the Philippines bolster partnership in responsible, sustainable mining, and climate action

Acknowledging the significance of mining in the economic, social, and environmental domains for both Sweden and the Philippines, Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) spearheaded a delegation to Sweden.

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Luis Sarmiento, president of the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association; Engr. Adrian Caamiño from Mindanao State University; and Swedish companies Epiroc and Volvo Construction Equipment also joined the delegation.

Business Sweden and the Embassy of Sweden in Manila hosted the high-level mining delegation to Sweden, which focused on knowledge-sharing and provided firsthand exposure to Sweden's advanced clean mining solutions.

Sweden is a leading mining nation at the forefront of sustainable and innovative mining technologies, accounting for approximately 90 percent of all iron ore production in Europe, and ranked No. 1 in the 2024 Global Sustainable Competitiveness Index. Swedish companies represent about 65 percent of the global underground mining equipment market share and have developed initiatives such as the Hybrit green steel production and electrified and automated mines, resulting in increased safety.

Sweden's history in mining dates back more than 800 years, and the past century has been marked by a successful triple-helix collaboration bringing together government, the private sector, and academia for research and innovation. Currently, there are 13 mines in operation, including the world's largest underground iron ore mine in Kiruna.

Swedish Minister for Climate and the Environment Romina Pourmokhtari and Secretary Loyzaga met bilaterally and exchanged views on possible areas of cooperation, including in the fields of green transition, sustainable mining, disaster risk management, water quality and supply management, ocean and coastal protection, forestry, and infrastructure projects arising from the Philippine National Adaptation Plan 2023-2050 and the Implementation Plan for the Republic of the Philippines' Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) 2020-2030.