Agnico Eagle Finland Oy operates the Kittilä mine and engages in mineral exploration elsewhere Kittilä and nearby areas. The Canadian parent company Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, established in 1957, is the second largest gold producer in the world and has mines in Canada, Australia, Finland, and Mexico. Further information on Agnico Eagle’s sustainable development practices and performance is available in the 2024 Sustainability Report at www.agnicoeagle.com.
Agnico Eagle Finland began mineral exploration in Kittilä in 2006, proceeding to excavation and gold processing in 2008. Operations began as open-pit mining, which ended at the end of 2012. Since then, ore has only been extracted from the underground mine. For the moment, production is planned to continue until late 2030s. The company employs around 1,000 people, including employees of partner companies. Over 50% of the employees live in Kittilä, with more than 90% of the personnel hailing from Lapland.
Sustainability is a key part of Agnico Eagle’s strategy. The company strives to integrate sustainability at every stage of mining operations, from exploration to mine closure and environmental rehabilitation. This translates into four fundamental objectives in sustainable development: maintaining a safe and healthy workplace, protecting the environment, respecting employees, and respecting communities. By investing in new technologies, Agnico Eagle Finland aims to reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency, protect biodiversity, manage water resources sustainably and improve safety and well-being at work. Working with local communities is important to create long-term positive impacts.
For more information on Agnico Eagle Finland’s sustainability practices and performance, see the 2024 Sustainability Report at www.agnicoeagle.fi (in Finnish only).
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| A | |||||||||||||
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| Community Relationships | Environment | Safety |
Agnico Eagle Finland’s regional exploration team has operated since 2006 as part of Agnico Eagle’s international exploration organization. In Finland, exploration activities are focused on the Kittilä mine area and its surroundings, as well as other parts of Northern Finland.
The exploration methods used include deep drilling, rock and soil sampling using percussion drilling, trench sampling, sampling with a mini drill (rock sampling), geophysical surveys, manual test pits, excavator-dug test pits, and bedrock mapping.
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| Location in a nature reserve* | ||
| Voluntary environmental management system ** | ||
| Environmental risk assessment carried out |
| Kyllä | ei | |
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| 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 |
Agnico Eagle Finland aims to promote social, economic and sustainable development in its area of operation. It is therefore important to engage in active dialogue and close cooperation with stakeholders, including representatives of the tourism sector and other economic activities. See more in Agnico Eagle Finland’s Social Responsibility Report 2024.
The regional exploration team makes all purchases from local businesses whenever possible. Work is planned in such a way that it does not cause adverse impacts, for example, to reindeer husbandry, forestry, or agriculture.
Agnico Eagle Finland’s regional exploration activities have no permanent impact on recreational use in the surrounding area. See more in Agnico Eagle Finland’s Social Responsibility Report 2024.
Landscape and natural values are considered in the planning and implementation of exploration activities. Agnico Eagle Finland’s regional exploration has no permanent impact on the landscape value of the surrounding area.
Agnico Eagle aims to contribute to the social and economic development of sustainable communities associated with its operations. Active dialogue and close cooperation with stakeholders are essential to achieve this.
The most important local stakeholders of Agnico Eagle Finlan include its own employees and those of partner companies, local communities, the municipality of Kittilä, reindeer-herding cooperatives, landowners, tourism operators in the area, and Metsähallitus (the Finnish state-owned enterprise responsible for managing state-owned land and natural resources). Since 2013, an important forum for cooperation has been the Community Liaison Committee, which includes a wide range of local stakeholders as members. The Committee convened three times in 2024. The last meeting of the year included a workshop with the aim of building a long-term plan for the Committee’s activities. The Community Liaison Committee also includes a representative from the regional exploration team.
Annually, Agnico Eagle Finland arranges an Open House event in collaboration with the municipality of Kittilä, Visit Levi, and the Levi Ski Resort. The event showcases the regional exploration of Agnico Eagle Finland and operation of the Kittilä mine. Stakeholders are also met at other events, such as the Levi World Cup, as well as at community events and at hearings related to permitting.
The regional exploration team regularly meets with stakeholders at scheduled information sessions and joint events focused on exploration and maintains contact with stakeholder representatives whenever needed.
Stakeholder feedback is collected through surveys at events, in the Community Liaison Committee, and via digital channels. Agnico Eagle Finland has a website with contact forms, and it is also possible to give feedback by email, over the phone, and via social media channels (Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn).
Agnico Eagle Finland’s regional exploration team strives to make tangible improvements that benefit local communities. One example is the renovation of the Naakinoja bridge, located in the Kuotko exploration project area in Sodankylä, carried out in cooperation with Metsähallitus. The initiative for the project came from local reindeer owners.
See more examples of research and collaboration projects in Agnico Eagle Finland’s Social Responsibility Report 2024.
