Finland Times

Talvivaara nickel mine factory in Eastern Finland has been accused of number of environment crimes including polluting air and water through discharging wastage following leakages developed in its gypsum pond.

The allegations revealed after an in-depth police investigation conducted by police during the last two years based on 4,000-page written information and reports gathered against the anti-environment activities by the company, said police.

The report also found involvement of number of company officials in outrageous impairment of the environment and not running the company as per the prescribed rules to protect the  environment, said sources.

Police said that about 50 people  including suspects and witness were interviwed during the investigation, although few of the accused were proved innocent after  completion of the investigation.

The law enforcing agency, however, did not disclose the total number of the accused during the legal process and appointed two prosecutors to move the cases in the court, said sources.

Earlier, on April 8, a leak developed in a gypsum pond of a Talvivaara nickel mine, forcing the company to shut down mining operations to prevent water pollution by the leakage.

A similar leak had appeared in November, 2012  at a metal factory of the company.

The environment officials said the amount of wastage being released through the leak was much higher than they had estimated initially.

Talvivaara sources said at least 7,000 cubic metres of waste water was oozing out of the leak an hour during the April 8 incident.

The company also said the magnitude and direction of the leakage and the composition of water remained as rough as in the previous year.

The authority, however, immediately after the appearance of the leak, started to block it and closed the metal factory as a precautionary measure.

The newly leaking drain is located in the same pool of November last year but in a block different than that of the last year.

According to the company, both the leak points are located in the older parts of the pool, where insulation is weaker. 

The company also claimed that the leakage will have no negative impact on the environment as there is water storage space in the mine area.

In another incident on August 7, pumping operation at the Talvivaara nickel mine factory has been suspended following closure of a valve when leakage developed in the pipeline of Sulphuric acid at Sotkamo, factory sources said.

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.