Drying Viankiaava or EUR 3.3 billion-Rydman: for the Natura deviation « all conditions »

Finnish For the first time, the government had to weigh natural values ​​against the economy for the Sakat mine as it discussed the future of the project at its January meeting. At that time, the Government General Session decided not to oppose the application of Anglo American Sodankylä Sakati mining project as an EU strategic project.

“The Government’s approach in this matter was that if the project was applying for it, we have no nationally, neither the Sakati nor any other project at this stage to oppose the process, the Minister of Economic Affairs Wille rydman (ps) says in an interview with STT. ”

In March, the EU Commission granted Sakat a strategic project, which is entitled to, inter alia, for accelerated permit processes. The granting of a strategic status may also promote the role of the project in an exemption in accordance with the Bird Nature and Water Tuition Directives. For Sakati, this is central because the mine is planned under the mire protection law and the Natura area under protected Viankiaava swamp.

When starting a mining, the central risk is the calculation of groundwater levels, which could lead to the swamp drying.

Rydman assures that the position of the strategic project does not reduce the level of environmental protection nationally. The place of actual political discretion will only come at a later stage for Sakat.

« Preliminary evaluation has been done, but this has not been the place of decision -making. »

The Member State has the right to oppose the granting of the status and thus prevent strategic status. According to the EU critical raw material regulation, getting to the list of strategically important projects requires, among other things, the project’s sustainable feasibility, especially in terms of environmental impact prevention and minimization. Finland could have opposed Sakat’s chosen on the project list if it had seen, for example, that the mine could not obtain the environmental permits needed for operations.

In Finland The government may grant an exception to a project that significantly weakens the natural values ​​of the Natura area if it must be implemented for a very important public interest and there is no alternative solution. The position of the EU strategic project is considered to meet the very important criterion of the general interest.

What does it mean that the significance of EU strategic autonomy has been taken into account when evaluating Sakat?

« In general, if you look at critical ingredients and minerals, then Europe is very dependent on foreign imports, and not least on China’s imports. These are, of course, well-founded reasons to evaluate the way the EU’s own raw material production could be strengthened, » says Rydman.

Anglo American behind Sakat is a multinational company with a subsidiary in China. Does Finland have the opportunity to regulate what the mined minerals are and who benefits from them?

« From the Finnish point of view, it is important that what is found in Finland, also, in the widest possible extent, is processed in Finland into higher breeding products. »

According to the Minister, what kind of production chains can be formed within Finland is essential for the matter.

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« Of course, it would be a significant and new opening at least on a principle level. »

Natura–deviation Granting would be exceptional in Finland. A similar decision was made only once, when the Government decided earlier in May that the Kokemäenjoki River could be used to build a flood protection measure in the Kokemäenjoki River.

Prior to this, according to the Ministry of the Environment, two projects have been applied for over the years, but has not been granted.

« Of course, it would be a significant and new opening at least on a principle level, » Rydman estimates.

At this stage, he does not see the reason why the deviation could not be granted.

« In my view, there are all the prerequisites for the project to be implemented in a way that is both economically viable and strengthened by Europe’s strategic self -sufficiency and also respects nature values. »

According to the project plan, mining would only take place at the edges of the protected area below the marsh, and the occurrence of a closer to the ground would not be utilized. The mouth of the tunnel excavated in the area would be outside the Natura area.

« I think these are the basic starting points that, in my view, quite widely respect the ultimate core of nature values. »

According to Rydman, the Natura decision must be reassessed if necessary.

« I think it would be quite a shame if the Natura decision even made it impossible to utilize the occurrence below the edge of the protected area along the tunnel excavated outside the protected area. »

Particularly on the nature conservation side, a possible decision on the Natura deviation has raised fear of the collapse of the Finnish nature conservation system. According to Rydman, it is not possible to think that Natura decisions could not be changed under any circumstances.

« Yes, in my view, it would sound like a pretty irrational activity and thinking that no re -evaluations could ever be done. »

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According to the memo, the risk has been seen in particular by lowering the groundwater level in the area and the resulting possible drying of the marsh.

BT acquired a Government decision from the Ministry of Employment and the Economy (MEE) after they came partly due to the announcement of projects selected as public. The proposal for the Government has been prepared by MEE, but the Ministry of the Environment has also been heard in preparation.

For the Sakat mining project and the enrichment plant, the reasoning of the decision states that the need for a possible or probable deviation from Natura protection is relevant to the formation of the project on the project. In other words, the government has had to weigh the natural values ​​of the project when making a decision.

According to the memo, the risk has been seen in particular by lowering the groundwater level in the area and the resulting possible drying of the marsh. In March of the company published by According to an updated Natura estimate, the mining project, despite the mitigating measures, could weaken three habitats and the living conditions of two protected plant species at the northwest of the Viankiaava.

In addition to nature values, the memo highlights Sakat’s employment and economic impact. According to the company’s application, the immediate employment impact of the project would be about 300 people each year and indirectly 2,800 people. The project is expected to create a locally locally 350 job directly and 700 jobs indirectly. During its life cycle, the mining project is expected to bring a total of 1.5 billion direct investments to Finland and produce EUR 3.3 billion in different taxes.

According to a memoir made by the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, the conclusion is clear.

« As a whole, and taking into account, among other things, the importance of the project for the EU’s strategic autonomy, the project is not considered to be related to the reason for the exercise of the right to resist, » the memo is shaped.