The closure of Mine 7 on Svalbard marks the end of coal mining in Longyearbyen. Mining operations ended in July 2025, followed by a final phase of dismantling and environmental cleanup. On 4 May 2026, the entrance was sealed and the key was thrown into the tunnel as part of the closing procedure. With this, Norway’s last operating coal mine on Svalbard ceased production, while Russian-operated mining continues in Barentsburg.
Coal mining in Longyearbyen began in 1906, when the American businessman John Munro Longyear established mining operations in the area. The settlement that developed around these activities later became the administrative center of Svalbard.
In 1916, ownership of the mining operations was transferred to the Norwegian company Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani. This marked the beginning of long-term Norwegian involvement in coal extraction on Svalbard. Over time, the company became a central actor in the development of Longyearbyen’s infrastructure and community.
For much of the twentieth century, coal extraction was the main economic activity in Longyearbyen. It provided the basis for employment, housing, and transport systems, and played a key role in maintaining a permanent Norwegian presence in the High Arctic.
Mine 7, opened in 1976, remained in operation after other mining sites on Svalbard were closed. In its later years, it supplied coal both for local energy production and for export to industrial users in Europe, including steel and cement manufacturing. Approximately 80,000 tonnes of coal were exported annually. The coal seam was relatively thin, typically between 1.1 and 1.8 meters, requiring work in low and confined spaces. The decision to close the mine reflects broader changes in Norwegian policy, including reduced reliance on coal and a shift toward other forms of activity in the region.
In the period leading up to the closure, workers removed equipment, cleared materials with potential environmental impact, and sealed the tunnels. The final phase of work focused on completing these tasks and formally ending operations.
The closure also meant the end of mining jobs in Longyearbyen. At the same time, the town is developing other sectors, including research, education, and tourism. Physical traces of mining remain visible in the landscape, and the industry continues to form part of the town’s historical background.
The closure of Mine 7 represents a transition from coal-based activity to other forms of economic and societal development in Svalbard.
Léa Zinsli, PolarJournal