Keliber Oy tells in a press release that the company has filed an application under Section 199 of the Finnish Environmental Protection Act, to the Regional State Administrative Agency for the right to initiate activities related to the preparatory work of its mining operations in accordance with the permit decision.
In addition, Keliber has requested authorization for preparation regarding the draining of the Syväjärvi and Heinäjärvi lakes pursuant to Chapter 3, Section 16 of the Water Act.
In February 2019, the Regional State Administrative Agency for Western and Inland Finland granted Keliber Oy an environmental permit for the Syväjärvi open pit mining operations and a water permit for the temporary draining of lakes Syväjärvi and Heinäjärvi, in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act (527/2014) and the Water Act (587/2011). Three appeals were filed in the Administrative Court of Vaasa against the environmental and water permits.
“We have studied the appeals against the Syväjärvi environmental and water permit. Based on our careful review and evaluation, we have applied for a right to initiate activities concerning the preparatory measures for mining operations, as well as filed for authorization for preparation regarding the draining of the Syväjärvi and Heinäjärvi lakes,” says Pertti Lamberg, CEO, Keliber Oy.
“Our lithium project is a nationally significant mining project. In our view, carrying out the preparatory activities preceding actual mining operations in Syväjärvi, in accordance with the regulations of the environmental permit does not render the appeal useless. Furthermore, in our view the preparatory measures concerning lakes Syväjärvi and Heinäjärvi can also be taken without causing considerable permanent harm to other uses of the waters or the natural environment,” Lamberg concludes.
