About SGU
Mission statement
"We take responsibility for questions relating to bedrock, superficial deposits and groundwater. We do so by serving as a centre for geological information and as an expert agency and through the exercise of our powers as a public authority."
Vision
"Our knowledge and information concerning geological conditions and minerals management will as a matter of course be put to use, resulting in well-founded decisions that promote economically, socially and ecologically sustainable development."
The Geological Survey of Sweden (SGU) is the national authority responsible to the Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications for matters relating to Sweden’s geological characteristics and mineral resources management.
SGU’s main task is to meet the national need of geological information, for example with respect to sustainable supplies of natural resources, spatial planning, the environment, and the total defence and national vulnerability.
Information from SGU is used by exploration companies in their search for mineral resources and for the purposes of local authority planning, protection of groundwater resources, remediation of industrially contaminated soil, environmental monitoring, and locating buildings, plants, roads, bridges and railways.
SGU is also responsible for the decommissioning and environmental remediation of the sites that were previously used to store Sweden’s emergency oil stockpile. In addition, we are responsible for progress towards achievement of the national environmental quality objective Good-Quality Groundwater and involved in efforts to attain the objective A Good Built Environment.
Decommissioning of oil storage facilities
SGU & environmental objectives
The Mining Inspectorate of Sweden, which is part of SGU, is an official body responsible for issuing permits for exploration and mining. It decides on matters falling under the Minerals Act (1991:45).
International cooperation
SGU represents Sweden in various international contexts relating to geoscience, one of the organizations of which it is a member being EuroGeoSurveys (EGS). EGS is an association of national geological surveys across Europe. Its principal role is to provide neutral, balanced and practical information, help and advice on European geoscience issues.
Read more about our international cooperation
At present SGU has about 290 employees, most of whom work at the head office in Uppsala. We also have branch offices in Göteborg, Lund, Stockholm, and Malå.