More mines can be opened in the Barents Region. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The nickel discovery was announced by Anglo American mining company earlier this week, and is said to be very promising. Samples of ore containing 4 percent nickel are found in the Viiankiaapa area, just north of Sodankylä in Finnish Lapland.
The news comes less than half a year after BarentsObserver reported that another mining company, First Quantum, said their nickel and copper ore discovery at Kevista contined 50 percent more ore than previously believed. The Kevista mine will start commercial production next year and is located north of the area where Anglo American now announces a huge nickel discovery.
The recent discoveries will boost the ongoing mining Klondike in Lapland and a billion Euros’ could be invested.
- When all mining projects in Lapland are combined, we are speaking about a billion Euros’ worth of investments, and thousands of jobs, says County Governor of Lapland Esko Lotvinen, interviewed by Helsinki Sanomat.
Anglo American Director Jim Coppard says to YLE that more test drilling need to be done in the area. 150 new employees will continue geological research in the area next year.
The nickel deposit is discovered in a nature protection area in Lapland. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
In can take many years before commercial mining in Viiankiaapa starts up. The mire area where the discovery is done is protected and is listed on the Natura 2000 network of protected areas set up by the European Union, according to Helsinki Sanomat. The newspaper reports that the Finnish Ministry of Environment has never granted exemptions for industrial activities in such nature protection areas.
Anglo American is the world’s fourth largest mining company, with 105,000 employees worldwide.
