Description

Gold Fields Arctic Platinum Oy is a company engaged in exploration with operations in Lapland in Ranua, Rovaniemi, Tervola, Keminmaa and Simo. The company is owned by South African Gold Fields Ltd. For 15 years, the company has been engaged in research aimed at developing mining activities based on the utilisation of deposits in its mining concession and exploration permit areas containing platinum metals, copper, nickel and gold. Gold Fields Arctic Platinum Oy has significantly cut the number of its staff and activities for the duration of the project divestment process currently underway.

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Toiminta-alue: Ranua, Rovaniemi, Tervola, Keminmaa and Simo

Yhteystiedot vastuullisuusasioissa:

Juha Rissanen
juha.rissanen@gfexpl.com
+358 (0)40 844 6671

The company in figures in 2015

• Tuotantomäärä: -
• Kokonaislouhinta: -
• Raportoidut malmivarat: -
• Raportoidut mineraalivarannot: 208.5 million tonnes (palladium 1.47g/t, platinum 0.36g/t, gold 0.12g/t, copper 0.22%, and nickel 0.10%)
• Toiminnan aloitusvuosi: 2000
• Kaivoksen arvioitu jäljellä oleva elinikä: -
• Kaivosalueen pinta-ala: 4,198 hectares (three mining areas/mining concessions of which Suhanko comprises 4,144 hectares)
• Malminetsintäalueen pinta-ala: valid claims amounting to 3,717 hectares, 9,500 hectares for which the company has submitted an application (in addition to which there is one reservation amounting to 5,081 hectares)
• Omien työntekijöiden määrä: 2
• Työntekijöiden pääasialliset asuinkunnat: Rovaniemi
• Vakituisten urakoitsijoiden määrä: 1
• Käyttökate EBITDA: - EUR 0.8 million
• Maksettu yhteisövero: -

About exploration

The company has valid claims amounting to 3,634 hectares (numbering 47). The company has one valid exploration permit with an area of 87.1 hectares In exploration and research , Gold Fields Arctic Platinum Oy makes use of diamond drilling, geophysical and aerogeophysical surveys, exploratory trenches, bedrock mapping, channel sampling, mini-drill sampling, trenches dug by an excavator, RC drilling, the sampling of glacial till, and boulder mapping. The company has also carried out trial mining and numerous studies regarding the concentration of ore, particularly in connection with the feasibility studies of the Suhanko mining project. No drilling was carried out in 2015. No permits concerning the exploration areas are subject to appeal.

Environment

Yrityksen ympäristökäytannöt:

• Location in a nature reserve: yes*
• Environmental management system exists: yes**
• An environmental impact assessment required (in accordance with the EIA Act): yes
• Measurements of dust: no
• Measurements of noise: no
• Measurements of vibration: no
• Environmental impact assessment completed: yes
• Deviations from the environmental permit (2015): no
• Environmental collateral exists: yes

*A Natura area (2,580ha within the reservation area) and a private nature reserve (15ha), **Uncertified

Keskeiset tunnusluvut:

• Fuel consumption: unreported
• Other energy consumption: unreported
• Water consumption: unreported
• Usage of chemicals dangerous to the environment: –
• A Natura assessment for the Suhanko mining project (2014) was carried out due to the Simojoki River, which is located approximately 5km from the project area

Personnel and safety

Yrityksen henkilöstökäytännöt:

• Employee initiative programme: no
• Goal and development dialogue programme covering the entire personnel: yes
• Personnel training plan: yes
• Equality plan: yes
• Personnel representation in company management: no
• Occupational and safety management system: yes
• All personnel working in the area are in possession of an occupational health card: yes

* No certification

Keskeiset tunnusluvut vuonna:

2015

• Average number of training days per year: 0 days/employee
• Absence due to sickness (excluding contractors): 10.3%
• Lost-time injury frequency rate: 0 accidents per 1,000,000 working hours (accidents leading to a loss of more than one shift)
• Working time systems currently in use: 1-shift system, 2-shift system, working time system (Mon to Fri)

Impact on the use of the neighbouring areas and the sources of livelihood

Vaikutukset paikallisiin elinkeinoihin: Exploration is carried out in the reindeer management area. Exploration activities are located in the areas of the Isosydänmaa (9, 800ha), Narkaus (7,600ha) and Niemelä (1,000ha) reindeer owners’ associations. The municipality, inhabitants of the neighbouring areas, landowners, those earning their livelihoods from agricultural activities and reindeer owners’ associations are recognised as being the key stakeholders of the company, and are taken into consideration in collaboration involving the stakeholders in connection with the local means of livelihood.

Vaikutukset lähialueen virkistyskäyttöön:

According to the assessment of the company itself, its activities have not impacted the recreational use of the neighbouring areas.

Vaikutukset maisema-arvoon:

The impact that the company has on landscape values has been reviewed in two EIA procedures which have clarified the impact on the landscape incurred by planned mining projects.

Interaction with stakeholders

Sidosryhmäyhteistyö:

• The assessment of social impacts was carried out in 2013, but social impacts are not being monitored
• The stakeholders are informed of the activities of the company in the local news paper, in information meetings, on a website and by sending letters
• From the perspective of the company, the collaboration format with the reindeer owners’ associations has been rather good. The Isosydänmaa Reindeer Owners’ Association reports that interaction has been neutral.
• The company does not support activities of the local community
• A channel exists for stakeholders via which they can submit feedback

Tutkimus- ja yhteistyöhankkeet:

Unreported