In Suhanko, Southern Lapland, there are deposits containing precious and base metals that have been explored over a number of decades. Now, a mining project is being planned for the area, with construction work due to commence in 2024.
Suhanko Arctic Platinum Oy or SAP, a mining development and exploration company founded in 2018, which is a wholly owned Finnish subsidiary of CD Capital Asset Natural Resources Fund III L.P., is responsible of the project. The parent company is managed by the British private equity investment company CD Capital Asset Management LTF (CD Capital). SAP is committed to commissioning into use the Finnish Network for Sustainable Mining.
Suhanko is a polymetallic deposit. The most important excavated mineral and main product is palladium, which is primarily used for manufacturing catalytic converters which are used to manage the exhaust emissions of vehicles. In addition to palladium, Suhanko ore deposits also contain platinum, copper, nickel, gold, cobalt and rhodium, which are critical for the continued drive towards clean renewable source of power. The deposits are located in Ranua, right to the border of Tervola, 45 kilometres south of Rovaniemi center.
The company has valid exploration permits covering total of 6,915 hectares (six permits). Exploration is carried out in Ranua, Rovaniemi, Tervola and Keminmaa municipalities. Suhanko Arctic Platinum Oy’s exploration and research methods consist of drilling, ground geophysical and airborne geophysical surveys, exploration pits made with excavators, bedrock mapping, saw-channel sampling, sampling using a mini-drill, RC drilling, geochemical sampling and boulder mapping. In addition, the company has conducted trial mining and numerous metallurgical tests on ore samples, in particular in connection with the feasibility studies for the Suhanko mining project.
| 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 performed | ||
| Deviations from the environmental permit *** | ||
| Mine Closure Plan | ||
| Plan for controlled mine closure in unexpected situations |
Wide-ranging surveys of above-mentioned species (2013, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022) and planning compensation measures.
| Yes | No | |
|---|---|---|
| Personnel initiative system: | ||
| Development discussions for all staff: | ||
| Staff training plan: | ||
| Equality plan: | ||
| Representation of employees in the company's administration: | ||
| Occupational health and safety management system *: | ||
| Occupational safety card for everyone working in the area: | ||
| Own rescue team: |
Exploration is practised in the reindeer herding area, belongin to the reindeer herding cooperatives of Isosydänmaa (9,800 ha), Narkaus (7,600 ha) and Niemelä (1,000 ha). The municipality, residents of neighbouring regions, landowners and reindeer herding cooperatives have been identified as belonging to the company’s most central stakeholders and the stakeholder work conducted by the company shall also take into consideration the local businesses.
According to the company’s own estimates, its operations have not had any impacts on the recreational use of the neighbouring areas.
The company’s impacts on landscape values have been investigated in three different EIAs that have clarified the landscape impacts of the planned mining projects.
Not reported
