Viscaria is entering one of its most intensive construction phases to date. To meet the need for temporary accommodation during the build‑out of the new processing plant, Viscaria Village is being established – a solution that eases pressure on Kiruna’s housing market while providing construction workers with a safe and well‑designed environment for rest and recovery. The project also reflects Viscaria’s clear stance against fly‑in‑fly‑out models and its commitment to strong local anchoring. In this interview, Community Strategist Daniel Kangas explains the purpose, timeline, and broader social responsibility that underpin the initiative.
Daniel, why is Viscaria Village needed?
We are entering a very intensive construction phase, during which a large number of construction workers will be on site for a limited period. The municipality was clear already during the environmental permit negotiations: Kiruna’s housing market is under pressure, and they wanted to avoid adding further strain through more contractor housing or long‑term temporary accommodation.
Viscaria Village is therefore a solution that allows us to carry out the construction without competing with Kiruna residents for housing. At the same time, we want to offer our construction workers a safe, modern and pleasant environment for overnight stays and recovery. Good rest and decent living conditions are directly linked to safety, health and working environment, and that is something we take extremely seriously.
There have been questions about the duration of the planning permission. How long will Viscaria Village remain in place?
The planning permission is temporary and valid for two years – the period required to build the processing plant. It is also important to clarify that the accommodation modules are leased by MG Link for 24 months and are not owned by Viscaria. Once the construction phase is completed, the accommodation will be fully dismantled in accordance with the planning permission.
The accommodation modules can be replaced with office modules or other functions if needed, but they will not be used as housing after the establishment phase. The purpose has been clear from the outset: to create temporary accommodation for construction workers during an intensive period, without placing additional pressure on Kiruna’s housing market.
At the same time, we are constructing a separate crew and service building that will remain even after the accommodation modules have been removed. This building contains no housing – it is purely a service facility with a canteen and changing rooms for contractors and mine workers operating in the area.
How does this align with Viscaria’s view on in‑migration and local anchoring?
From the very beginning, we have been clear that we do not believe in fly‑in‑fly‑out solutions. They do not create long‑term development for Kiruna and they do not contribute to a stable community. Viscaria Village is not a fly‑in‑fly‑out arrangement for the future production operation, but a temporary accommodation solution solely for the construction phase. Our principle is that our employees should live, build their lives and pay taxes here. This is not just an ambition – it is something we already practise. Of our roughly 55 full‑time employees, more than 90 per cent live in Kiruna, including several who have relocated from other parts of the country.
One of the first decisions we made when we took over Viscaria – then Copperstone Resources – was therefore to move the head office to Kiruna. It was a deliberate choice: we are to be present here, not operate at a distance. Today, we are Sweden’s only listed company headquartered in Kiruna.
How do you work with local companies in the project?
Our ambition is always to work with local companies and contractors as a first choice. It is a core principle throughout the entire project. Kiruna and the Malmfälten region have a long and strong tradition in mining and industrial operations, and that expertise is something we truly value. Local companies know the industry, understand the conditions here, and bring experience that is difficult to find anywhere else. That is why it is entirely natural that the vast majority of contractors working at Viscaria today are Kiruna‑ and Malmfälten‑based businesses.
Viscaria has long been involved in Kiruna’s development outside the mine site. Why?
We want Kiruna to be an attractive place to live – not only for our employees, but for everyone who lives and works here. That is why we took the initiative to launch Kiruna Växer, which today brings together 107 employers. Together, we focus on four areas that are crucial for the city’s future: housing, transport links, growth financing and cultural life.
One example is the founding of Kultura Kiruna, which has grown rapidly and become an important part of the city’s cultural scene. It has likely also contributed to Kiruna being named European Capital of Culture for 2029, something we are very proud of.
We are also proud sponsors of events such as the Snow Festival, the Kiruna Festival and Kiruna IF. They are important parts of Kiruna’s identity and community spirit. In addition, we support a large number of smaller local associations, clubs and events every year – everything from sports to culture and youth activities. This contributes to a richer leisure offering and a more vibrant Kiruna.
For us, these are not side projects. They are a natural part of our responsibility as an employer and as an actor committed to helping shape Kiruna’s future.
If you were to summarise it – what is the key point of Viscaria Village?
We want to create more than just a place to sleep. It should offer a functioning everyday environment where people feel safe, connected and have opportunities to socialise and spend time together. Those are the things that prevent problems and help people cope with the demands of an intensive construction project.
The accommodation is a temporary and responsible solution that makes it possible to carry out one of the largest industrial investments in Kiruna in many years – without placing a burden on the municipality. At the same time, our construction workers get a modern and well‑designed environment that genuinely supports recovery. When people can sleep properly and unwind after the working day, both safety and wellbeing improve.
Through Viscaria Village, we are showing that we take responsibility for the people who are helping us restart the mine, and we believe this concept will be adopted in more industrial projects in the future.