FinnCobalt’s Managing Director Ilari Kinnunen presented the planned environmental impacts of the Hautalampi project at the Maamme rikkaudet (“Our Riches”) event in Outokumpu on September 19.

Event highlights the concerns about mining, and this year’s main theme was the impact of the mining industry on water systems.

Kinnunen introduced modelling results illustrating the anticipated effects of the Hautalampi mine on downstream water bodies, including the Natura 2000–protected Lake Sysmäjärvi.

“Overall, the project’s impacts on water systems are not expected to significantly degrade any of the protected values and therefore will not compromise the integrity of the Natura area,” Kinnunen summarized.

In certain respects, the effects are anticipated to be beneficial. Controlled discharge of treated
waters is expected to reduce heavy metal concentrations in Lake Sysmäjärvi by up to 3 percent compared with current levels.

In addition, water contaminated by past mining operations, currently circulating untreated within the area, will be captured, and purified for reuse as process water in the mining operations.

“Research and studies are still ongoing, and our objective is to deliver better water quality in the
area,” Kinnunen emphasized.

Efficient Use of Waste Rock and Other Excavated Materials

Environmental considerations play a particularly important role in the Hautalampi project, as pollution from mining activities shut down in the 1980s still affects the area today. The goal for Hautalampi is a zero-waste, carbon-neutral mine.

“All human activity carries some degree of impact. The key question is how we minimize that impact,” Kinnunen noted.

All waste rock at Hautalampi will be utilized entirely as backfill. Kinnunen also mentioned the possibility of using pyrite-separated tailings in circular economy applications.

During the mine’s operation, FinnCobalt also aims to remove legacy sources of pollution outside the mine site. For example, in the construction of the Outokumpu urban area, contaminated soil was used that still pollutes groundwater and surface water. For the city of Outokumpu, the cost of processing the soil is estimated at around 200 million euros. Stabilizing these masses for use in backfill would significantly reduce diffuse pollution and create an opportunity for cost-effective urban development.

Strongly Committed to Promoting Collaboration

Kaivoskriittinen Maamme rikkaudet -tapahtuma järjestettiin historiallisesti merkittävässä ympäristössä, suomalaisen ka The event questioning mining practices took place at the historic Old Mine of Outokumpu, the birthplace of Finnish mining industry.

Ilari Kinnunen emphasizes the importance of FinnCobalt’s participation in fostering open and constructive dialogue between the mining industry and its critics.

“Promoting collaboration is a natural and essential element of our approach,” he concluded.

The Maamme rikkaudet event in Outokumpu was recorded and can be watched here: YOUTUBE »