Talvivaara Mining Company Plc
09.11.2012 | Globenewswire Europe
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Talvivaara Mining Company Plc
9 November 2012
Stemming of the leakage in Talvivaara's gypsum pond continues
Kainuu ELY Centre does not for the time being grant permission for re-start of
the metals recovery plant
Talvivaara Mining Company Plc ("Talvivaara" or the "Company") announces that the
gypsum pond leakage towards the South was completely stemmed in the early
morning of 9 November 2012, but during the day a further small leakage has
occurred, and work to stem it continues. The leakage to the North was entirely
stopped in the early morning of 8 November 2012.
Whilst the majority of the leakage has been contained in safety dams inside the
mining concession area, the Company has had to release some water outside of the
mining concession area beginning Thursday 8 November 2012 from the safety dam
furthest downstream to the South. Following the completion of additional safety
dams, Talvivaara expects to be able to stop the discharge during Saturday 10
November 2012.
The water released from the safety dam has been neutralized such that its
acidity has been decreased and metal contents have been materially reduced
compared to the water in the gypsum pond. As a result, environmental effects
outside the mining concession area have been limited so far. According to the
statement by Finland's environmental administration today, the discharge has not
materially worsened water quality in downstream waters, as the majority of the
nickel discharge from the gypsum pond has been contained within the mining
concession area.
The uranium content in nearby waters has somewhat increased due to the gypsum
pond leakage. According to the statement by the Radiation and Nuclear Safety
Authority of Finland earlier today, uranium concentrations in the mining
concession area and its surroundings are sufficiently small not to have
radiation protection materiality or pose any danger to health.
The Kainuu Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
("Kainuu ELY Centre") has in its statement of 9 November 2012 assessed that
Talvivaara's metals recovery plant shall not be re-started before the planned
operation of the plant has been clarified such that it best serves the recovery
from the exceptional situation caused by the gypsum pond leakage. Kainuu ELY
Centre requests the Company to clarify how the plant can be operated in this
manner by Wednesday 14 November 2012.
Talvivaara re-iterates its opinion that the re-start of the plant is an
important step in the overall environmental risk management of the mine. The
bioheapleaching process is a continuous process that cannot be stopped over the
short term. As the leaching process continues to produce more nickel and other
metals into the process solution, it is important to precipitate the leached
metals as opposed to accumulating them in solutions stored in the process ponds.
As such, the metals recovery process can be considered a treatment process for
waste water.
Talvivaara has stated in its Production Update of 15 October 2012 and its
Interim Results of 8 November 2012 that it anticipates its fourth quarter
production to increase over the 4,030 tonnes of nickel achieved in the third
quarter. As the stoppage of the metals recovery plant continues, the Company has
to re-assess this target during the week commencing 12 November 2012.
Enquiries
Talvivaara Mining Company Plc Tel: +358 20 7129 800
Harri Natunen, Chief Executive Officer
Saila Miettinen-Lähde, Deputy CEO and CFO
Talvivaara Mining Company Plc
Talvivaara Mining Company is an internationally significant base metals producer
with its primary focus on nickel and zinc using a technology known as
bioheapleaching to extract metals out of ore. Bioheapleaching makes extraction
of metals from low grade ore economically viable. The Talvivaara deposits
comprise one of the largest known sulphide nickel resources in Europe. The ore
body is estimated to support anticipated production for several decades.
Talvivaara has secured a 10-year off-take agreement for 100 per cent of its main
output of nickel and cobalt to Norilsk Nickel and entered into a long-term zinc
streaming agreement with Nyrstar NV. Talvivaara is listed on the London Stock
Exchange Main Market and NASDAQ OMX Helsinki and is included in the FTSE 250
Index. Further information can be found at www.talvivaara.com.
Stemming of the leakage in Talvivaara?s gypsum pond continues 9.11.12:
http://hugin.info/136227/R/1656764/535722.pdf
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Source: Talvivaaran Kaivososakeyhtiö Oyj via Thomson Reuters ONE
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Unternehmen: Talvivaaran Kaivososakeyhtiö Oyj - ISIN: FI0009014716