Anglo American has received the conservation decision it applied for from the Lapland Centre for Economic Development concerning the 2,910-hectare forest area acquired from Inari. The conservation decision is part of the forest compensation for the infrastructure of the Sakatti Polymetallic Mine Project in Sodankylä and represents the largest ecological compensation implemented in Finland.
Anglo American is committed to offsetting the environmental impacts caused by the Sakatti Mine infrastructure that cannot be either avoided or reduced on-site. In May 2022, the company voluntarily acquired nearly 3000 hectares of collective forest in Inari, Lapland, for ecological compensation related to the mining project. The forest area was acquired from another location, in Inari, due to its considerable size and meeting the necessary criteria.
The forest conservation compensates for direct terrestrial ecological impacts primarily outside the Viiankiaapa conservation area, where the infrastructure required for the mine - such as buildings, access roads, and power lines - would be constructed.
Additionally, Anglo American plans to restore and protect drained mire areas in the mining community of Sodankylä. The company’s principle is to overcompensate for the environmental impacts caused by all new mining projects. Compensating for environmental impacts even before project implementation aligns with the goals of Finland’s Nature Conservation Act.
The planned Sakatti Mine in Sodankylä aims to be carbon-neutral. Minerals will be extracted deep from the bedrock using electrical equipment and advanced tunnel boring technology. The minerals will be transported through an underground tunnel to a processing facility outside the protected Viiankiaapa area. No above-ground structures will be built in the conservation area.
These new mining methods not only achieve carbon neutrality but also minimize waste production. At least 70% of the water required for the mine will be recycled, and all mine site waters, including rainwater and meltwater, will be treated. No water will be discharged into the protected area, ensuring sustainable mineral extraction.
Anglo American’s Sustainable Mining Plan, integral to FutureSmart MiningTM, is built around three Global Sustainability Pillars: Healthy environment, Thriving communities and Trusted corporate leader. Each pillar has three Stretch Goals that the company plans to reach by 2030 and further goals and ambitions that will be added to these as the company progresses. The goals are ambitious and designed to challenge the company to lead and innovate.
For additional information, please contact:
Pertti Lamberg, Sakatti Project Manager, Anglo American,
Tel +358 40 128 3988, email: [email protected]
Background information
Ecological compensation
Ecological Compensation aims to offset the negative impacts caused by human activities on biodiversity.
Ecological compensation is part of the so-called mitigation hierarchy, according to which harm is primarily avoided. If avoidance is not possible, efforts are made to minimize the harm locally.
Next, the harm is reduced by using restoration, i.e. returning the environment as close to its natural state as possible. If this is also not possible in the project area, the harm will be compensated by restoring, protecting or caring for nature elsewhere - i.e. through ecological compensation. Conceptually, ecological compensation is similar to the Polluter Pays Principle.
Finland is committed to protecting biodiversity in accordance with the UN's sustainable development goals. Ecological compensation is considered as one way to achieve the goal. In many European countries, compensation is already an important part of environmental legislation and the EIA process of planning and assessment of environmental impacts.