|
Sat, 31 Oct, 2015 12:10:16 AM FTimes – STT Report, Oct 31  Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd operated Kittila mine. File Photo – Lehtikuva. The situation in the Kittilä gold mine is serious due to incident of tailing pond leakage, said Eira Luokkanen, the head of environmental protection unit at the Lapland ELY Centre.
“The situation is quite serious when the case is as such. I, however, would not compare the situation with Talvivaara,” Luokkanen said.
Despite the severity of the leak, there is no acute risk of the dam collapsing.
“Measures were taken as soon as the first leak was detected. Now what is important is to reduce the tailing pond water level in a controlled manner so as the repair work can begin,” Luokkanen added.
Preventing the collapse of the waste dam will be done by draining excess water through an environmental permit granted exemption.
Furthermore, the mine's water storage pond will be used as soon as possible so that water can flow in Seurujoki as well as in the pond.
Hannele Pokka, the Permanent Secretary to the Environment Ministry said via Tweeter that the Ministry is monitoring the situation closely.
The spill at the mine was reported earlier by national broadcaster YLE, among other news outlets.
According to Yle, the Agriculture and Environment Minister Kimmo Tiilikainen has hinted for a stringent approach to licensing requirements on mine's water purification, if water management problems continue.
The Kittilä gold mine is run by Agnico Eagle Finland Oy.
More News
|
|
Finland Times
| Tuesday, 23 April, 2024 |
|
Copyright © 2024 All rights reserved
|
||||
