The preparation of the Sakatti Mining Project requires the reconciliation of several perspectives. Future mining will be based on the expectations of stakeholders, environmental issues and societal requirements, as well as market demands and technical planning.
“In the planning phase of the project, it is largely about adapting mining operations with other forms of land use. Reindeer husbandry, forestry and residents – everyone has their own needs”, says Ulla Syrjälä, Principal Safety & Sustainable Development of Anglo American’s Sakatti Project.
So, what does adapting mining to other land use mean in practice?
The planning examines, among other things, how the buildings required for mining operations, water treatment and the storage of excavated masses should be located. New transport routes and power lines also need space.
Noise, dust, lighting and the impact on the landscape must also be taken into account from both human and environmental perspectives, even though all terrestrial activities of the future mine will be located outside the Natura 2000 area.
“The conservation values of the Natura 2000 area are often discussed, but in the environmental issues of the mine, we study the impacts in a much broader context. The scope of the issues to be dealt with requires the skills of a true all-rounder”, says Ulla Syrjälä.
Ulla Syrjälä and her team investigate possible impacts on flora, habitats, and fauna both on land and in water bodies through baseline surveys and a variety of modelling techniques. The grazing routes of reindeer and the natural movement of reindeer in the mine’s impact zone are monitored with GPS tracking devices.
Climate change mitigation
Anglo American’s operations are guided by the global principles of sustainable mining. The environmental objectives are to be climate-neutral and to optimise the use of necessary water resources.
Thirdly, the company aims to achieve a net positive biodiversity impact, according to which the company must improve biodiversity more than its operations reduce it.
Artificial intelligence will also help
Emissions are reduced in Sakatti’s project, for example, by using renewable energy and efficient mining methods. Computer-controlled drills work energy-efficiently, and transportation is optimised using automation.
“The mine’s digital ecosystem and automation also create new ways to operate safely and efficiently. Anglo American is making use of these in its plans. With artificial intelligence, the mine can improve the processing of ore, for example, so that minerals can be recovered more precisely from the ore. At the same time, mining uses less energy and water, and less waste rock is also created”, says Ulla Syrjälä.
Water circulates efficiently
Water treatment is one of the most important aspects of environmental work.
“We have already done a great job with groundwater. The ability of the soil layers to conduct water and the structure of the bedrock has been modelled with the most accurate method available. Because of the groundwater, we decided not to utilise the separate deposit closest to the surface”, Ulla Syrjälä explains.
At least 70 per cent of the water in the Sakatti mining area is recycled. From the inclined tunnels of the mine, the water seeping from the bedrock is removed. Additionally, runoff water from melted snow and rainwater is also collected for treatment from the mining area.
Proper water storage and purification require careful planning. Even though the water is purified, it is not returned to the protected area.
Waste-free mine
“The quantity of waste rock and tailings produced by the Sakatti Mine is considerably lower than the amount of waste produced by a similar open pit mine. This is due to the exceptionally high metal concentrations in the Sakatti deposit and the underground location of the mine. In addition, the waste rock is a good resource for us to use during the construction period”, says Ulla Syrjälä.
Waste rock is the rock that is removed so that the deposit can be accessed, the mineral content of which is not sufficient for processing. However, more than half of the excavated waste rock can be used for construction. Once the ore has been extracted from the waste rock and tailings, the extracted cavities are backfilled. Tailings remaining on the ground are stored and covered appropriately.
“I believe that all of us who are taking the project forward are motivated by the same desire to do things as well as possible”, says Ulla Syrjälä.
The good work we have done has received praise. An independent body recently assessed the responsibility, stakeholder interaction, and safety work of Sakatti’s ore exploration work using the international TSM standard.
“The results were good, but of course, we also received some tips on how to further enhance our operations. Continuous improvement is a key objective of such assessments”, Ulla Syrjälä adds.
Ulla Syrjälä, Principal Safety & Sustainable Development of Anglo American’s Sakatti Project.