The amount of copper in Repparfjorden – altaposten.no

Everyone has heard that Nussir ASA has found Norway’s largest copper incidence of the Repparfjord. This will provide the basis for hundreds of jobs for many years.

But how much ore is it, is all this profitable to extract, how many jobs and how long will there be operations? On all these questions there are very sprawling answers. And this information is now partly treated as state secrets.

The entire basis for the mining plan, for future work and revenue is the amount of viable ore. The professional language distinguishes between the geological concept of resource and the economic concept of reserve. It is the last that is interesting for both the mining company and society.

When Nussir ASA applied for an operating license, the resources in Nussir and Ulveryggen together were calculated at 72 mt with just over 1 % copper, and were to provide the basis for operations for 35-40 years. At the same time, the company’s representatives talked about probable operations for 50-100 years.

The authorities allowed operations on the basis of figures from the company. Mining projects that want investors, on the other hand, must document what is profitable. Therefore, Nussir had to order an « feasibility study » by an independent consulting company. The result, which was available in 2022, was a real downturn for Nussir ASA.

The reserve was assessed at 24.4 mt with 0.75% copper. This is 1/4 of what Nussir had previously stated. With one stroke, both operating time and profitability are reduced to a fraction. This study received no first page posting in the newspapers. Understandably.

All mines that have received an operating license must submit a report to the Directorate for Mineral Management each year. There they will report on « remaining viable mass ». The report is registered in the public mail journal, where you can apply for access to it.

In the report for 2021, this figure was exceeded by the Directorate, as a trade secret. In the report for 2022, however, it was open and showed 72 mt ore. Thus, the entire resource was considered worthwhile.

In 2023 this was no longer possible, then the consultancy assessment had come, and « Remained Verible Mass » was written down to 20 mt! But when the report for 2024 came, this figure again had become a trade secret, and was corded in the document that was delivered.

At about the same time, Nussir’s newly written waste management plan came. There it is stated that there are resources for about 20 years of operation, or 30-40 mt viable ore.

Despite the reserves being written down and that technical development provides more automation, Nussir ASA’s figures in expected jobs over the last 15 years have increased from 90 to 250.

This does not hang on. The question then becomes:

– When will we rely on the figures from Nussir ASA? – Why should such numbers be a secret stamp?

– Have those who have granted permits what they have done? – Does this have any consequences?

Svein Lund, mine.info