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Sweden's LKAB reduces iron ore production due to railway problems

LKAB, a state-owned Swedish mining company, announced in a Wednesday statement that it will reduce its iron ore production due to derailments along a railroad linking Sweden and Norway as well as reduced transport capacity.

LKAB announced that it would reduce production by 1 million tonnes annually and may take other measures including laying off employees.

Stockpiles of iron ore accumulated after two derailments on the Malmbanan Railway, used by LKAB to transport ore from Norway to Narvik.

The mining company reported that derailments in the winter caused traffic to be stopped for 76 consecutive days, resulting in a daily revenue loss of about 100 million Swedish crowns.

LKAB has said that while traffic has resumed, capacity will be affected until 2030 due to the expected increase in other rail traffic.

The estimated revenue loss from production cuts is 5 billion Swedish crowns (474.4 million dollars) per annum, or 30 billion crowns in 2030.

Jan Mostrom, CEO of LKAB, said: "The situation is serious enough that if we can't run any more ore trains we will need to give staff notice and stop more operations." $1 = 10.5412 Swedish Crowns (Reporting and editing by Terje Sollsvik).