Mon, 16 Nov, 2015 12:07:26 AM FTimes – STT Report, Nov 16  Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd.'s Kittila mine is the Suurikuusikko gold deposit, located Approximately 900 km north of Helsinki in the town of Kittila in Finnish Lapland. File Photo – Lehtikuva. The tailing pond leakage in Kittilä gold mine has been brought under control, said the Lapland Ely Centre (Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment).
The leak is still continuing, but the rate of flow has considerably slowed down.
Currently there is no information of irreparable damage caused to the environment and the situation is improving, said Timo Jokelainen, who is a director in charge of environment and resources at Lapin Ely.
Two leaks were reported in autumn, and they will be investigated during the current month. According to Ely Centre, the environmental impact of the leak has been reflected in increased levels of sulfate concentrations in the river Seurujoki.
Following the leaks, the Kittilä gold mine has been subject to intensive monitoring from the Environment Ministry.
Agnico Eagle Finland, the company which runs the gold mine is obliged to report accurately the events at the mine, said Hannele Pokka, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Environment.
According to Pokka, it is of paramount importance to establish how holes in the tailing ponds came to be formed.
Mikko Korteniemi, the chief operation officer at the mine said moraine, crushed aggregate and bitumen membrane were used as base material in the leaking pond.
The exact cause of the leaks is however difficult to determine, Korteniemi said.
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