Talvivaara: The District Court has given its ruling on the criminal case concerning water discharges of the Sotkamo mine

Stock Exchange Release
Talvivaara Mining Company Plc
13 May 2016

The District Court has given its ruling on the criminal case concerning water discharges of the Sotkamo mine   

Talvivaara Mining Company Plc ("Talvivaara" or "Company") has been informed that today the District Court of Kainuu ("the District Court") has given its ruling on the case concerning the gypsum pond leakages of the Sotkamo mine in November 2012 and April 2013 and the sodium, sulphate and manganese discharges that exceeded the anticipated amounts stated in the original environmental permit application of the Sotkamo mine. Originally the charges were brought against four members of Talvivaara's management, including CEO Pekka Perä and former CEO Harri Natunen. The charges concern aggravated impairment of the environment. Harri Natunen has not been employed by the Company since the autumn of 2015.

The case concerning the discharge of raffinate from the metals recovery plant and dilute secondary heap solutions into the open pit during the period of 19 December 2013 - 31 January 2014 was handled together with the above mentioned case. The charges were brought against CEO Pekka Perä for impairment of the environment.

The District Court dismissed the charge concerning aggravated impairment of the environment and moderated the type of the crime to impairment of the environment. Penalties in the form of a fine were imposed on Pekka Perä, Harri Natunen and the former chief operations officer of the mine, who acts as a member of the Executive Committee of the Company. The prosecutor's demands concerning a suspended prison sentence and compensation for the benefit obtained from the crime were dismissed in relation to the private defendants. All charges were dismissed in relation to the fourth defendant. The charges concerning the discharge of raffinate from the metals recovery plant and dilute secondary heap solutions into the open pit made against Pekka Perä were dismissed.

A corporate fine and compensation for the benefit obtained from the crime was imposed on Talvivaara Sotkamo Ltd, represented by the bankruptcy estate of Talvivaara Sotkamo Ltd. Talvivaara Mining Company Plc has not been a party to the court case.

The decision is not yet final and binding and the parties may appeal the case to the Court of Appeal. The Company and the parties of the case will continue to assess the decision.

Enquiries

Pekka Erkinheimo, Deputy CEO, Talvivaara Mining Company Plc Tel. +358 20 7129 800
Markus Kokko, Attorney, Borenius Attorneys Ltd, Tel. + 358 20 713 33