Finland company aims to double size of Sotkamo mining operations
Finland’s Talvivaara mining company is planning a major expansion of its operations in Sotkamo in eastern Finland.
According to the Finnish daily newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, the area being mined would almost double if the proposal is accepted.
The billion-euro development is expected to produce five times as much nickel and create about 1,000 new jobs in the Kainuu region.
The company applied to Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes) for the expansion permit in the summer of 2011.
Tukes said it won’t begin processing the permit before 2013 due to a backlog of applications and a shortage of staff.
However Talvivaara said it is prepared for a long approval process and has not yet organized financing for the venture.
Mining activities are currently suspended, with operations focusing on extracting nickel from available ore. Mining operations are scheduled to recommence by the end of the year.
For more stories from Yle News, click here