How the participation in research projects can

help the company fulfill its environmental

responsibilitiesUlla Syrjälä, Environmental Manager, Boliden Kevitsa Mining Oy

10/3/20171Boliden Kevitsa Mining Oy

Min-North (Development, Evaluation and Optimization of

Measures to Reduce the Impact on the

Environment from Mining Activities in Northern Regions)

RESEM (REmote SEnsing supporting surveillance and

operation of Mines)

History of Kevitsa:

Was found by GTK1987

Outokumpu Mining Oy 1995 - 1998

Scandinavian Gold Prospecting AB (later Scandinavian Minerals Ltd)

2000

First Quantum Minerals Ltd bought Scandinavian Minerals Ltd 2008

FQM decided to build the mine 2009, construction started 6/2010, in

commercial production August 2012

Kevitsa was the biggest mine in Finland 2015 ja 2016 (ore and waste

rock)

Boliden acquired Kevitsa 10.3.2016 for the price 650 M€. Since

1.6.2016 part of the Boliden group

10/3/2017Boliden Kevitsa Mining Oy 2

10/3/20173Boliden Kevitsa Mining Oy

Production 2016

2016 2015 2014

Feed to the

plant, tons 7 391 710 6 665 500 6 711 200

Ni% (sulphide) 0.22 0.20 0.23

Cu% 0.31 0.29 0.30

Nickel, tons 11 795 9 300 10 100

Copper, tons 20 571 17 200 17 500

Gold, kilos 486 400 400

Platinum, kilos 1 178 992 1 060

Palladium, kilos 901 784 808

Total extraction, Mtons 40 37 28

10/3/2017

10/3/20175Boliden Kevitsa Mining Oy

Environmental responsibilities

-> mitigation and monitoring effects

10/3/20176Boliden Kevitsa Mining Oy

Water balance management

Emissions quality and quantity

Dam safety

Dust, working environment and nature

Waste management -> Closure management

Biodiversity

Environmental responsibilities

-> mitigation

10/3/20177Boliden Kevitsa Mining Oy

Water balance management

‒ Developing existing models, new more complex models

Emissions quality and quantity

‒ Water treatment methods

‒ Scale is 200 – 1000 m3/h, very low concentrations

‒ Harsh climate conditions

Dam safety

‒ Dams are different -> scattered information on designs and operations

Dust, working environment and nature

‒ fugitive dust emission

Waste management -> Closure management

‒ More to come! In Finland we are just in the beginning of the journey

Biodiversity

Environmental responsibilities

-> monitoring

10/3/20178Boliden Kevitsa Mining Oy

Water balance management

‒ Continuous weather measurements

‒ Continuous flow

‒ Historical data and climate change predictions

Emissions quality and quantity

‒ Continuous measurements, at the moment indirect -> modelling?

‒ Continuous soluble Ni measurement -> in use, not accurate

‒ Automated emission calculations

Dam safety

‒ Conductivity measurements around the dams

‒ Instrumentation

‒ Remote surveillance (drones, satellites?)

Dust, working environment and nature

‒ Biological monitoring

Waste management -> Closure management

Biodiversity

Does research projects help the company?Are there projects only for projects?

10/3/20179Boliden Kevitsa Mining Oy

Is there any real outcome from the project that could benefit the

company? Method, measurement, system etc.

The aim should be that the methods invented should be able to

taken into use in large scale – in real life.

CAPEX/OPEX are relevant to the companies!

Always good if amongst research partners there would also be

authorities involved

Why all the research institutes and universities have same

ideas (that’s in fashion! Government support this!) just after

each other… joint your forces beforehand or don’t try to do the

same!

Conclusion -> Still all –even crazy – ideas are welcome