There is news from the mine and the processing. Talga seems to not want to store and crush the trial mining material on site and move that (before LKAB for storage and Finnland for crushing). Maybe to avoid trouble with the neighbors/Sami?
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"SVAPPAVAARA 6:6, notification of change regarding activities subject to authorization
The Environment and Building Committee therefore decides
approve the notification as regards intermediate storage and crushing with the following precautions:
- Leachate must be treated when necessary. Guideline values equivalent to those applicable to leachate from the test pit
- Crushed material must be protected from water ingress during storage
- Crushing should take place during the bare soil period as far as possible to reduce the risk of disturbance of reindeer husbandry
Description of the case
Talga AB has notified a minor amendment to the test mining permit, concerning the storage and crushing of test mined ore.
Handling of the case
The company's application documents state that ore will be stored in a precipitation-protected mine pit approximately 2 km south of the planned test mining area until the next bare ground period or the year after. The company is now notifying a change regarding the possibility of intermediate storage of ore in an area approximately 25 km southwest of the company's operating area on the property Svappavaara 6:6, adjacent to Kulleribacken (SWEREF99 TM, N 7513701, E 758420).
In preparation for future test mining, Talga plans to store and, if necessary, crush material at this location. The ore stored at the site from the 2021 test mining is approximately 2,300 tonnes and will remain until the remaining permitted amount has been mined in 2022 or 2023, after which storage and crushing of the next round of test mining, approximately 22,700 tonnes in 2022 or 2023, is planned. The site has concrete pads that can be used for leachate collection and can be provided with leachate management that meets or exceeds permitted conditions.
Comments from interested parties
The Gabna and Laeva Sami communities have submitted comments on the notification. Gabna states, inter alia, that it
opposes the notified amendment because the test mining
is part of enabling future mining and that the transport may be detrimental to reindeer husbandry. Laevas Sameby argues that the area lies within the Sameby's annual grazing areas, but is used mainly for winter grazing. The area constitutes a narrow passage for the Sami village's reindeer to cross the E10 to get around Svappavaara mining area. The Sami village also has serious concerns about the impact of dust from loading and storage of mined ore.
Both Sami communities object to the current notification and both are critical of the increased volume of transport.
Reason for decision
The administration estimates that the number of transports will not increase significantly compared to storage in a gravel pit next to Nunasvaaravägen. In any case, the transports are a consequence of the test mining, which is permitted, and not what is assessed in this notification. The quantities applied for in test mining are relatively small, which should not have any long-term consequences in terms of dust compared to, for example, crushing in quarries. The crushed ore is to be stored in storage tents on the concrete surfaces available on site. Overall, the handling and intermediate storage of test crushed ore at Kulleribacken is considered to have a positive environmental impact in terms of emissions management. As far as possible, crushing will not take place during the winter period, which should reduce possible disturbance to reindeer husbandry. The area in question was previously used for gravel extraction and military stores.
The Environment and Building Administration proposes that the Environment and Building Committee decides to
approve the notification as regards intermediate storage and crushing with the following precautions:
- Leachate must be treated when necessary. Guideline values equivalent to those for leachate from test mining.
- Crushed material must be protected from water ingress during storage.
- Crushing shall, as far as possible, take place during the bare soil period to reduce the risk of disturbance of reindeer husbandry.
Motions and decision-making
Recommendations of the Board
=> the administration's proposal is approved
=> The Board decides in accordance with Sten Nylén's proposal."
https://kiruna.se/download/18.4186b40418002ba89c3190dc/1650967352588/PROTOKOLL MOB 2022-04-13 PUBLICERAD.pdf
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A comparison with the plot map (
https://minkarta.lantmateriet.se/) shows the position here (N 7513701, E 758420):
https://www.google.com/maps/search/Kulleribacken/@67.6234832,21.0939704,1047m/data=!3m1!1e3
My thoughts on the matter:
- Again solved a problem and one step further!
- This solution was proposed by Talga to come towards the Sami. Of course, they also have a problem with this because they fear that this can no longer be stopped.
- The district administration gives Talga the OK to proceed in this way and does not accept Sami's objections! They enable.
- My assessment of the situation and shared land use with the Sami seems to be correct. See the long first post in our bar. (by the way, it's boring so alone. It's time for a party)
- We do the crushing and no longer drive it to Finland and back. This is a step forward in the process.
- This seems to apply only to trial mining.
What do you guys think about this?
https://cordis.europa.eu/datalab/datalab.php?lv=fr&oid=898933630
