Yara Finland Oy is a fertilizer company that also engages in mining and ore prospecing. Yara’s mine is located in Siilinjärvi in Northern-Savo. It is owned by Norwegian Yara ASA international. Apatite is enriched from the ore obtained from the mine’s open pits. Apatite is obtained the world’s purest phosphorus as a raw material for fertilizers and fodder phosphates. The mine’s other most valuable products are apatite, lime, biotite and various mica products.
In addition to the apatite mine, there locates also, sulfuric acid factories, phosphoric acid factory, nitric acid factory, fertilizer factory, fertilizer packing plant and phosphate research center in Yara’s Siilinjärvi location. The factories started in 1969, while the mine started in 1979. The concentration of the apatite ore in the mine is the lowest of the exploited apatite deposits in the world (about 4.2% P2O5 in situ).
The apatite concentrate is separated from the ore in the flotation process, which increases the P2O5 content to approximately 36.5%. In 2022, approximately 91% of the apatite was used at the Siilinjärvi phosphoric acid factory, where the apatite is dissolved in sulfuric acid, resulting in the formation of gypsum in addition to the phosphoric acid. Phosphoric acid and apatite are used as raw materials for phosphorus in the production of fertilizers both at the Siilinjärvi’s fertilizer factory and also at the company’s other locations. At Yara’s Kokkola factory, phosphoric acid is used to produce fodder phosphates.
Yara conducts ore exploration in the area of Siilinjärvi municipality in the vicinity of Yara’s mining area. Ore prospecting is carried out by means of geological mapping, geophysical measurements and drilling. The minerals to find for are apatite and calcite. In addition, exploratory drilling is carried out in the mining area.
| Yes | No | |
|---|---|---|
| Location in a nature reserve* | ||
| Environmental Management System ** | ||
| Environmental impact assessment required (in accordance with the EIA Act) * | ||
| Measurements for dust | ||
| Measurements for noise | ||
| Measurements for vibration | ||
| Environmental risk assessment carried out | ||
| Deviations from environmental permits *** | ||
| Closure plan for the mine | ||
| Plan for the controlled shutdown of the mine in unexpected situations |
| Yes | No | |
|---|---|---|
| Staff initiative system | ||
| Performance appraisals concerning the entire personnel | ||
| Staff training plan | ||
| Equality plan | ||
| Employee representation in company administration | ||
| Occupational health and safety management system* | ||
| Occupational safety card for everyone working in the area | ||
| Own rescue unit |
The municipality, residents of the surrounding area, landowners and rural businesses are taken into account in the company’s stakeholder group work.
Yara is the largest industrial employer in Siilinjärvi and a significant employer in the Kuopio region. Yara Siilinjärvi directly employs around 400 htv and the estimated total employment effect of the site is around 2,200 htv.* Including contractors, more than 700 people work at the site every day.
*The total employment effect is based on 2018 figures and modeling by KPMG. The total employment effect consists of the direct (own employees) and indirect employment effect as well as the income effect. The income effect describes the employment effect that occurs when directly and indirectly employed people buy with the money they earn. The direct employment figure includes permanent, temporary and external employees.
The operation of the mine has had an impact on recreational use in the surrounding area. There have been effects on berry picking, mushroom growing, fishing and camping.
During the establishment phase of the mine and the expansion of its operations, the mine has acquired its ownership of areas, in which case these areas have partially gone out of the scope of recreational use. The operation has also had an impact on Syrjänlampi and Lake Kolmisoppi outside the mining area, where the recreational use value of the lakes has weakened due to the eutrophication of the lakes. Efforts have been made to stop and reduce the development of eutrophication in lake Kolmisoppi with the help of oxygenation and treatment fisheries. Yara started further renovation of the lake in 2015. The goal of the renovation is to improve the recreational use value of the lake. The local village association and local residents are also involved in the renovation project.
In connection with the environmental impact assessments made on the mining area, the landscape effects of the operation have been clarified by modeling observational images and visibility assessments. The landscape effects of mining operations are concentrated in the vicinity of the mine, where the side rock dumping areas and the tailings pond become clearly visible objects in the landscape. The mining area is located near water bodies and there are agricultural areas in the vicinity of the area, where the landscape is open. From these areas, the outcrops of the mining area can be observed. Landscaping areas, such as side stone pile areas and tailings areas, will be landscaped as the operation progresses to the extent that it is possible from the point of view of the operation. As a whole, the landscaping will be completed when the activity ends. Landscaping plans have been drawn up in such a way that the areas can be adapted to the landscape surrounding the area as naturally as possible with the help of landscaping.
In 2015, the company founded a cooperation group in the vicinity of the Siilinjärvi location, the aim of which is to increase interaction between different operators. The group meets about twice a year.
In addition to the cooperation group, regional groups for nearby residential areas have been established at the workplace.
A collaborative project related to the utilization of tailings sand.
