Northern Swedish Port to Receive EU Grant

The European Union will support with €3.6 million from the TEN-T Program a series of studies preparing for the upgrade of the infrastructure in the Swedish Port of Luleå.

The studies, which were selected for funding under the 2012 TEN-T Annual Program, will analyse certain aspects ahead of the works to double the loading capacity at the Port of Luleå from 9-20 million tonnes. They will look at solutions to deepen the port and improve its maritime access, as well as other basic port infrastructure such as quays and rail access.

Modernising the Port’s facilities will boost Sweden’s export of iron ore - a mineral of which Europe in 2010 had a self-sufficiency ratio of below 15% (nearly 90% of that coming from the north of Sweden), and for which there are only two other major exporters on the world market: Brazil and Australia.

The port’s improvements will also yield significant socio-economic benefits for the region as a whole.

The studies will be monitored by the Trans-European Transport Network Executive Agency (TEN-T EA) and are set to be completed by May 2015.