Talvivaara received the permission to discharge excess waters - discharge will now commence
Talvivaara Mining Company Plc
12 February 2013
Talvivaara received the permission to discharge excess waters - discharge will
now commence
Talvivaara Mining Company Plc ("Talvivaara" or the "Company") has on 12 February
2013 received a permit decision from the Kainuu Centre for Economic Development,
Transport and the Environment ("Kainuu ELY Centre") to discharge purified waste
waters.
The discharge permit combined with the discharge quota in Talvivaara's existing
environmental permit allow the Company to progress with its water management
plans as planned. These plans aim to prepare for environmental risks caused by
excess water on mine site and in safety dams as a result of the gypsum pond
leakage before the spring melt, and ensure that ore production can be re-started
in July 2013.
The monitoring authority Kainuu ELY Centre permits Talvivaara to discharge 1.8
million m(3) of neutralised waste water into the Vuoksi and Oulujoki waterways,
such that 0.9 million m(3) is discharged into each direction by 30 June 2013.
Additionally Talvivaara can direct 0.5 million m(3) of waters currently in the
open pit into the Kuusilampi pond in the vicinity of the pit, and continue to
discharge within the 1.3 million m(3) discharge quota in its existing
environmental permit.
According to the Kainuu ELY Centre, the permitting authority Northern Finland
Regional Administrative Agency ("AVI") can in addition to Kainuu ELY Centre
resolve upon additional discharges beyond the now authorized 1.8 million m(3) by
amending the permit conditions of Talvivaara's existing environmental permit.
The Kainuu ELY Centre considers that the process should be initiated at AVI
without delay. Talvivaara has already applied for removal of the 1.3 million
m(3) annual discharge quota in connection with the update process of its
existing environmental permit. While the decision on the overall update of the
environmental permit is expected in the spring, Kainuu ELY Centre expediting the
matter may assist in removing the discharge quota already earlier. The Kainuu
ELY Centre can also allow discharging waters beyond the currently authorized
1.8 million m(3) if AVI has not resolved upon an executable decision on the
matter by the time the currently allowed discharge quota is about to be
exhausted.
Talvivaara's original notification under Section 62 of the Environmental
Protection Act proposed a discharge requirement of 3.8 million m(3) in total.
However, Talvivaara considers these arrangements and the 1.3 million m(3) quota
in the existing environmental permit to enable the commencement of planned water
management arrangements and their implementation in the short term. Talvivaara
believes these measures to also enable the re-start of ore production in July
2013 in accordance with the 2013 production plan. However, in order to achieve a
sustainable longer-term water balance and permanent reduction in the operation's
risk level, Talvivaara continues to consider the discharge of the entire 3.8
million m(3) or removal of the 1.3 million m(3) discharge quota in the existing
environmental permit to be necessary.
Talvivaara will commence the neutralisation and discharge of waters from the
mine site without delay in accordance with the Kainuu ELY Centre decision. The
quality of discharged waters is targeted to be in line with the requirements of
Talvivaara's environmental permit, and any impact of the discharge on downstream
waters is monitored continuously.
Enquiries
Talvivaara Mining Company Plc Tel +358 20 7129 800
Pekka Perä, CEO
Saila Miettinen-Lähde, Deputy CEO and CFO
Talvivaara Mining Company Plc
Talvivaara Mining Company is an internationally significant base metals producer
with its primary focus on nickel and zinc using a technology known as
bioheapleaching to extract metals out of ore. Bioheapleaching makes extraction
of metals from low grade ore economically viable. The Talvivaara deposits
comprise one of the largest known sulphide nickel resources in Europe. The ore
body is estimated to support anticipated production for several decades.
Talvivaara has secured a 10-year off-take agreement for 100 per cent of its main
output of nickel and cobalt to Norilsk Nickel and entered into a long-term zinc
streaming agreement with Nyrstar NV. Talvivaara is listed on the London Stock
Exchange Main Market and NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. Further information can be found
at www.talvivaara.com.
Talvivaara received the permission to discharge excess waters 12.2.13:
http://hugin.info/136227/R/1677329/546989.pdf
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Source: Talvivaaran Kaivososakeyhtiö Oyj via Thomson Reuters ONE
[HUG#1677329]
Unternehmen: Talvivaaran Kaivososakeyhtiö Oyj - ISIN: FI0009014716