Boliden Kevitsa is a multimetal mine operating in Sodankylä, Northern Finland, and it is a major employer in the region. Our main products are copper and nickel concentrates. Concentrates also include platinum, palladium, gold and cobalt. The ore concentrates are further processed mainly by Boliden Harjavalta. Boliden Kevitsa is working systematically to minimize the environmental impact, increase energy efficiency and preserve biodiversity. We improve productivity and safety by investing in automation, electrification and remote control.
More information on our website: Boliden Kevitsa Mining Oy
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| AA | |||||||||||||
| A | |||||||||||||
| B | |||||||||||||
| C | |||||||||||||
| Community Outreach | Biodiversity Management | Tailings management | Water management | Energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions | Mine closure | Occupational health and safety |
| Crisis management preparedness | Internal review | Training and exercises | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crisis Management Planning – Corporate | |||
| Crisis Management Planning – Site |
The main exploration activities of Boliden Kevitsa in 2023 were located in Central Lapland, within the municipalities of Sodankylä, Savukoski, Kittilä, and Pelkosenniemi, as well as in the municipalities of Kiuruvesi, Pyhäjärvi, and Leppävirta. The areas were primarily explored for nickel, copper, zinc, and platinum group (PGE) metals.
The company’s exploration and research methods include deep drilling, basal till and bedrock sampling, geophysical measurements, hammer sampling, geochemical sampling methods using hand tools (till, stream sediments, plants, etc.), and bedrock mapping.
| 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 |
Mining operations cover an area of 1 420 hectares within the Oraniemi reindeer herding cooperative’s reindeer husbandry area (0.4% of the cooperative’s total area). The mining area is fenced, but reindeer occasionally still wander onto the site. The reindeer fence is regularly inspected and maintained by local reindeer herders. Any adverse impacts on reindeer husbandry are compensated financially on an annual basis according to a written agreement. The company’s stakeholder collaboration takes into account the municipality, local residents, landowners, professional fishermen, environmental organizations, and reindeer herding cooperatives. In mineral exploration, local service providers are primarily used for subcontracting work.
According to Boliden Kevitsa’s assessment, its operations have impacted the recreational use of the nearby area. The effects have mainly been on berry picking and hunting. The mining area has previously been and still is an area for moose hunting. Berry picking is assumed to have decreased right next to the mining area.
Landscape values have been taken into account in the company’s operations. The mine closure plan includes a landscaping plan.
Since 2020, Boliden Kevitsa has had a stakeholder collaboration group that has met regularly four times a year. This continued in 2023 as well. One of the meetings was held as a public event in September 2023 at the municipal office. The topics of the meeting included ongoing permitting processes, soil extraction activities, the expansion of the mining area, a new tailings pond, communication channels, flood wave calculations, the closure plan permit decision, human rights impact assessment, sediment studies, a follow-up study on the perceived impacts of mining activities in Sodankylä, sustainability reporting, and the mining stage 5.
External stakeholders of Boliden Kevitsa have the opportunity to provide feedback through Boliden’s website, which has a feedback channel for stakeholders. This channel helps Boliden’s mines improve stakeholder collaboration. In 2023, Kevitsa received two (2) complaints through this channel. One concerned noise disturbance near the center of Sodankylä along Highway 4, and the other was related to the initiative by the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation’s Lapland district and Rajat Lapin kaivoksille ry concerning the Kevitsa mine.
In 2023, the University of Lapland conducted its fourth follow-up study, “Perceived Impacts of Mining Activities in Sodankylä“, which examined the views and experiences of those living in Sodankylä regarding the mining industry. Taking into account the limitations related to the generalizability of the data, it can be stated that the residents of Sodankylä generally have a positive attitude toward their hometown and the mining industry. The mining activities were perceived to have had a positive impact, particularly on the municipality’s economy and on job and career opportunities. However, overall, respondents perceived the impacts of the mining industry in the area more negatively than before. Concerns included the sufficiency of the workforce and the availability of jobs for as long as possible. Additionally, there was a general feeling that opportunities for participation and influence on matters related to the mining industry were weak.
Boliden Kevitsa has been involved in the following research and collaboration projects, acting either as a financier, research subject, and/or as part of steering groups during 2023:
