Translation into English from http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/Talvivaaran+kaivoksen+p%C3%A4%C3%A4st%C3%B6t+rikostutkintaan/a1305549035268
Talvivaara Mining Company Plc, which is located in Sotkamo, has been ordered to be investigated with a possible environmental crime, by the Oulu Police Department/ Economic Crime Unit.
The environmental harm caused by the company started the police investigations, requested by the Kainuu Regional Environment Centre with an official announcement and by private citizens, who told of water and air pollution.
The investigation is just starting in collaboration with industry experts. Only later they will find out, whether or not there is any reason to suspect a crime.
Authority of Kainuu for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment has already called for the company to reduce their emissions. The Centre also wonders whether the mine's operations should be discontinued.
In the neighboring areas waters are foamy and the air smells foul. The company announced their environmental permit earlier at the start of their operations, which was so low in sulfate and manganese emissions that they would not have needed to define the specific limits. Now, the amounts are dozens of times over limits.
The mining company's principal shareholder and Managing Director Mr. Perä asserts that the company has not treated the problems with indifference, but emissions have already been reduced. The company also intends to invest in cleaning the contaminated water.
torstai 10. marraskuuta 2011
News regarding Talvivaara Mining Company Plc in Helsingin Sanomat
Here's a link to the Helsingin Sanomat newspaper, which has it's own separate page for all the news regarding Talvivaara Mining Company plc. http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/aihe/talvivaarankaivos/
Articles are in Finnish, but we will do our best to translate all the news into English, and post them to this blog asap.
Articles are in Finnish, but we will do our best to translate all the news into English, and post them to this blog asap.
keskiviikko 9. marraskuuta 2011
Blog post by MEP Satu Hassi (Green party)on Talvivaara
English translation for Satu Hassi's blog post on Talvivaara: http://www.satuhassi.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1989:kaivosyhtioen-ja-kainuulaisten-totuudet-talvivaarasta-kuin-yoe-ja-paeivae&catid=5:blogi&Itemid=19
The Finnish broadcasting company (Yle) reported that the Ministry of industry is against the complaint I submitted to the Chancellor of justice on Talvivaara. Well, that's what ministry is supposed to do of course, ex officio.
But explanation of the ministry is illogical, and in fact confirms my point of complaint. According to Yle, the chief mining inspector, Pekka Suomela, says that the authorities have been well aware of the separation of uranium mine in the process.
The point in the complaint is that the mine application does not mention anything about uranium, even though the authorities knew, or at least they should have known about the uranium in Talvivaara. The mining company knew in advance that the process used in the mine separates uranium from ore. No one told about uranium to local municipalities and residents before the mine was already there. The mine permit does not include conditions for uranium waste disposal. Nor do permitted emission limit values include uranium.
In reality, what Yle told about the response of the ministry of industry only confirms my complaint. I have not seen the actual response of the ministry due to a meeting in London today.
Last Friday I visited Talvivaara with Ville Niinistö. The mining company's management report on the situation was from another planet compared to what local people told us at Kajaani town hall.The company's management gave the impression that the emissions to the environment (which have been dozen times higher than what the environmental permits allow and and the values of the prior assessment) are brought under control. Only in the closest and smallest two lakes the water is not normal.
In the town hall, on the other hand, we heard from local residents that the conductivity of the water in two larger lakes downstream is still a ten-fold compared to the situation before the mine. Conductivity indicates the amount of various metal salts, acids or bases in water.
Representatives of the mine told me that the biggest complaint, the smell, has been curbed. As evidence, they showed decreasing figures of the neighbours' complaints after the summer.When we visited the mine, the rotten egg stench (caused by hydrogen sulfide gas), was fairly mild. But in the town hall, we were told that when two locals meet, discussion turns to the odor.Vuokatti tourism entrepreneur told me that a few days days before, a disappointed customer had called him and said that he did not drive his family and three children all the way from the south to Vuokatti to get to smell the odor. Entrepreneurs in Vuokatti tourism will suffer.
The mining company's management tells that in the local meetings, which they hold in the area quite frequently, the complaints on environmental problems are almost non-existent.In the public event in Kajaani almost everyone said that people have been deceived. According to them, the mining company's managing director Pekka Perä, who together with the director of the Center for economic development did not attend the event, toured beforehand in the villages talking to bioleaching process, and gave the impression that it is pretty much organic stuff.Locals were not told that in addition to bacteria the mine uses massive amounts of chemicals such as sulfuric acid. And, of course, the uranium was not discussed in advance.
But explanation of the ministry is illogical, and in fact confirms my point of complaint. According to Yle, the chief mining inspector, Pekka Suomela, says that the authorities have been well aware of the separation of uranium mine in the process.
The point in the complaint is that the mine application does not mention anything about uranium, even though the authorities knew, or at least they should have known about the uranium in Talvivaara. The mining company knew in advance that the process used in the mine separates uranium from ore. No one told about uranium to local municipalities and residents before the mine was already there. The mine permit does not include conditions for uranium waste disposal. Nor do permitted emission limit values include uranium.
In reality, what Yle told about the response of the ministry of industry only confirms my complaint. I have not seen the actual response of the ministry due to a meeting in London today.
Last Friday I visited Talvivaara with Ville Niinistö. The mining company's management report on the situation was from another planet compared to what local people told us at Kajaani town hall.The company's management gave the impression that the emissions to the environment (which have been dozen times higher than what the environmental permits allow and and the values of the prior assessment) are brought under control. Only in the closest and smallest two lakes the water is not normal.
In the town hall, on the other hand, we heard from local residents that the conductivity of the water in two larger lakes downstream is still a ten-fold compared to the situation before the mine. Conductivity indicates the amount of various metal salts, acids or bases in water.
Representatives of the mine told me that the biggest complaint, the smell, has been curbed. As evidence, they showed decreasing figures of the neighbours' complaints after the summer.When we visited the mine, the rotten egg stench (caused by hydrogen sulfide gas), was fairly mild. But in the town hall, we were told that when two locals meet, discussion turns to the odor.Vuokatti tourism entrepreneur told me that a few days days before, a disappointed customer had called him and said that he did not drive his family and three children all the way from the south to Vuokatti to get to smell the odor. Entrepreneurs in Vuokatti tourism will suffer.
The mining company's management tells that in the local meetings, which they hold in the area quite frequently, the complaints on environmental problems are almost non-existent.In the public event in Kajaani almost everyone said that people have been deceived. According to them, the mining company's managing director Pekka Perä, who together with the director of the Center for economic development did not attend the event, toured beforehand in the villages talking to bioleaching process, and gave the impression that it is pretty much organic stuff.Locals were not told that in addition to bacteria the mine uses massive amounts of chemicals such as sulfuric acid. And, of course, the uranium was not discussed in advance.
Overall, the Talvivaara mine is almost a moon scenery. That is an open mine unlike most of the Finnish mines so far. In the underground mines you mostly see on the surface the mine elevator tower. In an open mine, the top soil is turned around as deep as there is ore. Talvivaara mine is big, 60 km2, and the company wants to expand it further.We were told at the mine, that the content of nickel in the ore (the company's main product), is just over 0.2%. This poor ore would not become economical to use with traditional methods.
My side remark is that at the same time this means huge amounts of material handling, ie huge land masses to be turned over. If the nickel content is 0.2%, then the stone has to be grind at least 500-fold compared to the amount of product sold. With the traditional method, the ore stone should be grind really fine. In bioleaching it is enough that the rock is crushed to a grain size of about 8 mm in size. This way the rock grinding uses a lot less energy.
Gravel is piled up a ridges. When the bacteria that naturally lives in this type of rock, are given the right conditions, they remove the nickel. In a way, fascinating and ingenious. But when handling such huge amounts of substances, including chemicals needed for the process, such as sulfuric acid, the emissions to the environment are huge, at least until now.
If I understood correctly, the mining company is investigating how to circulate the water in the process so that it does not leak to the environment. But they are still quite far away.The company's representatives explained that the fact that the original application did not talk about uranium, was that they did not originally know ways how to transform uranium to commercial form. But even before the start of mining operations, however, they knew that bioleaching would separate uranium from ore. If a company receives from uranium mining license afterwards, many other mining projects should probably be examined as potential uranium mines, even though their permit applications would not mention uranium.
The mining company's managing director Pekka Perä - who only a few days after, announced his resignation - reminds me of a lively engineering student. The visit gave an impression that the entire mine had been build up in a spirit of a young engineering student happening.
And by the way, the uranium is radioactive material and toxic heavy metal.
My side remark is that at the same time this means huge amounts of material handling, ie huge land masses to be turned over. If the nickel content is 0.2%, then the stone has to be grind at least 500-fold compared to the amount of product sold. With the traditional method, the ore stone should be grind really fine. In bioleaching it is enough that the rock is crushed to a grain size of about 8 mm in size. This way the rock grinding uses a lot less energy.
Gravel is piled up a ridges. When the bacteria that naturally lives in this type of rock, are given the right conditions, they remove the nickel. In a way, fascinating and ingenious. But when handling such huge amounts of substances, including chemicals needed for the process, such as sulfuric acid, the emissions to the environment are huge, at least until now.
If I understood correctly, the mining company is investigating how to circulate the water in the process so that it does not leak to the environment. But they are still quite far away.The company's representatives explained that the fact that the original application did not talk about uranium, was that they did not originally know ways how to transform uranium to commercial form. But even before the start of mining operations, however, they knew that bioleaching would separate uranium from ore. If a company receives from uranium mining license afterwards, many other mining projects should probably be examined as potential uranium mines, even though their permit applications would not mention uranium.
The mining company's managing director Pekka Perä - who only a few days after, announced his resignation - reminds me of a lively engineering student. The visit gave an impression that the entire mine had been build up in a spirit of a young engineering student happening.
And by the way, the uranium is radioactive material and toxic heavy metal.
Petition to fight against the faceless Talvivaara Mining Company Plc
Please, read and sign this petition to raise your voice for the beautiful environment of Sotkamo and against the faceless Talvivaara Mining Company plc.
http://www.adressit.com/ympariston_puolesta_talvivaara_oyn_kaivostoimintaa_vastaan
http://www.adressit.com/ympariston_puolesta_talvivaara_oyn_kaivostoimintaa_vastaan
Pekka Perä: Talvivaara does not exceed the given emission limits
Here's an English translation to the article today from Kainuun Sanomat newspaper: http://www.kainuunsanomat.fi/Sivupohja_Talous/1194704767211/artikkeli/pera+talvivaara+ei+ole+ylittanyt+paastorajoja.html
- For most of the mined substances there is not set limits. There are the estimates which have been exceeded, but the estimates are not permit limits, Perä says the STT.
Talvivaara’s waste-water treatment has left people to leave investigative requests. The police have been asked to investigate, has the company been braking the given rules and environmental regulations, by running the wastewaters to the nearby lakes.
The lakes nearby the minery have been measured and found to have increased emission rates. According to Helsingin Sanomat, Talvivaara’s sulfate emissions are many times over the given limits.
- We are still, and we want to be environmentally efficient mining pioneers, Perä says.
Talvivaara pre-tax profit for the July-September, was 4.3 million euros negative. According to the the interim report published on Wednesday, problems at the metals recovery plant hampered the production.
The mining company Talvivaara Plc’s CEO Pekka says, the company has not exceeded the prescribed emission limit values.
According to the Perä there is no set emission limit values for sulfate concentrations,, which the company should follow.
- For most of the mined substances there is not set limits. There are the estimates which have been exceeded, but the estimates are not permit limits, Perä says the STT.
Talvivaara’s waste-water treatment has left people to leave investigative requests. The police have been asked to investigate, has the company been braking the given rules and environmental regulations, by running the wastewaters to the nearby lakes.
The lakes nearby the minery have been measured and found to have increased emission rates. According to Helsingin Sanomat, Talvivaara’s sulfate emissions are many times over the given limits.
- We are still, and we want to be environmentally efficient mining pioneers, Perä says.
Talvivaara pre-tax profit for the July-September, was 4.3 million euros negative. According to the the interim report published on Wednesday, problems at the metals recovery plant hampered the production.
Talvivaara exceeds drastically the emission limits for sulfate
Here's a free translation in English, about today's newspaper article in Helsingin Sanomat. http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/Talvivaara+ylitt%C3%A4%C3%A4+sulfaattip%C3%A4%C3%A4st%C3%B6rajat+rajusti+/a1305548961599
Sotkamo.
Environmental problems hamper the lives of the people living nearby the Talvivaara minery. Residents complain about the smell of hydrogen sulphide, and the black dust, and the authorities have measured the sulphate levels are many times over the given limits.
"Are we to quietly endure the dust and odors? Houses, lands, and the beaches are worthless," said Salme Kananen, 67, from Sotkamo Taattola.
Nearby is lake Hakonen, whose surface has begun to strangely bubble. Talvivaara minery is five miles away.
Sotkamo.
"Are we to quietly endure the dust and odors? Houses, lands, and the beaches are worthless," said Salme Kananen, 67, from Sotkamo Taattola.
Nearby is lake Hakonen, whose surface has begun to strangely bubble. Talvivaara minery is five miles away.
Talvivaara mining company has exceeded many times over the set out emission values in the environmental permit.
Ely-Keskus Kainuu (Economy, Transport and Environment Centre.) and some of the residents has left the police an investigation of environmental degradation. Sotkamo Mayor Petri Kauppinen says that the municipality supports the tightening of the mining permits.
The worst for the water is the sulfate, which are exceeds many times over the given limits.
"The environmental permit is set to a limit of the company's desire, 130 milligrams per cubic meter. In reality, the company's waste water has been calculated and shown to have sulphate of 8 000 milligrams per cubic meter," Sami Koivula, Director of northern Finland State Provincial Office said.
Ville Niinistö of the Environment Minister (Green) calls for a fast interference with the problems, and points out that the law gives the opportunity to suspend the operation of the company. Niinistö does not accept that the company dramatically exceeds its self-determined limits.
"The company has had a lot of practice in its operations. There is dust and foul smell, and now it's the water problems," says Niinistö, who recently visited Talvivaara minery.
Niinistö believes that the environmental impact assessment was incomplete in the past when it was made.
"The environmental impact assessment phase is very important. Then the people of the region should get to know what is really happening in their environment."
The mine's current environmental permit expires next spring, and the company wants a new permit exemptions to emissions until 2015.
Niinistö points out that the law will allow the mine to suspend operations if the environmental conditions are not met.
Ely-Keskus Kainuu (Economy, Transport and Environment Centre.) and some of the residents has left the police an investigation of environmental degradation. Sotkamo Mayor Petri Kauppinen says that the municipality supports the tightening of the mining permits.
The worst for the water is the sulfate, which are exceeds many times over the given limits.
"The environmental permit is set to a limit of the company's desire, 130 milligrams per cubic meter. In reality, the company's waste water has been calculated and shown to have sulphate of 8 000 milligrams per cubic meter," Sami Koivula, Director of northern Finland State Provincial Office said.
Ville Niinistö of the Environment Minister (Green) calls for a fast interference with the problems, and points out that the law gives the opportunity to suspend the operation of the company. Niinistö does not accept that the company dramatically exceeds its self-determined limits.
"The company has had a lot of practice in its operations. There is dust and foul smell, and now it's the water problems," says Niinistö, who recently visited Talvivaara minery.
Niinistö believes that the environmental impact assessment was incomplete in the past when it was made.
"The environmental impact assessment phase is very important. Then the people of the region should get to know what is really happening in their environment."
The mine's current environmental permit expires next spring, and the company wants a new permit exemptions to emissions until 2015.
Niinistö points out that the law will allow the mine to suspend operations if the environmental conditions are not met.
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