The Finnish mining company Hannukainen Mining has far-reaching plans to open a mine in Finnish Kolari.
The application process has alredy began and all needed documents has been sent to the state mining authorities. At the moment the Hannukainen Mining test drills in the mining area of Kolari to investigate what is hidden underground.
The Finnish mining company bought the deposit from the mining company Northland's bankruptcy estate two years ago. Hannukainen Mining is owned by a Finnish family company called Tapojärvi.
The mining company believes that mining production in Hannukainen can start within five years and it has no doubts about the profitability of the planned mine.
- Unlike the Northlands mine in Tapulivuoma in Pajala, we will also have copper and gold in addition to iron ore. An important difference compared to the Pajala mine is that there is an existing rail link to Rautuvaara, where the enrichment plant will be located, says Geologist Ida Källberg, who works for Hannukainen Mining.
The transport of the ore will be delivered via rail to the port of departure in the Bay of Bothnia.
There have been iron ore mining in Kolaris forests since the 17th century. The railway from Kolari to Rautuvaara needs upgrading and the mining company hopes that the entire runway from Kolari to Chemistry will be electrified.
Hannukainen Mining expects to employ approximately 500 people during the construction of the mine and about 300 people when the production is in progress. The deposit is expected to last for at least 17 years of mining.
