Finland Times

 

Talvivaara's main gate on Friday 31 Sotkamossa toukukuuta 2013. Photo - STR/Lehtikuva.

Pumping operation at the Talvivaara nickel mine factory has been suspended on Wednesday following closure of a valve when leakage developed in the pipeline of Sulphuric acid at Sotkamo, factory sources said.

 

Fire-fighters rushed to the spot immediate after the leakage was detected at about 2.00 pm but the reason behind the incident could not be known immediately.

 

The factory authority claimed that the acid would not reach the ground area as the leakage took place at the protective part and there is no possibility of environmental hazard in the locality.

 

No human casualty was reported in the incident and it would not hamper the production of the factory, said sources.

 

“A leakage has been noticed in sulphuric acid pipeline resulting cancellation of the pumping operation and closure of the valve,” the communication officer of the company, Olli-Pekka Nissinen said, adding that leaking developed in a canal protected with a film and acid cannot reach the ground.

 

Earlier, on April 8, a leak developed in a gypsum pond of a Talvivaara nickel mine in eastern Finland and forced the company to shut down mining operations for preventing water pollution by the leakage.

 

A similar leak had appeared in November last year at a metal factory of the company.

 

At least 7,000 cubic metres of waste water was oozing out of the leak every hour.