Description

Yara Suomi Oy is a company engaged in the fertilizer business, which also conducts mining and exploration. Yara’s mine is located in Siilinjärvi, Pohjois-Savo. It is owned by Norwegian Yara ASA International. The most valuable products of the mine include apatite, lime, biotite and various mica products. In 2015, measured by its excavation volume, the Siilinjärvi mine was the second largest in Finland.

In addition to the apatite mine, roasting units for sulphur raw material (pyrite), sulphuric acid plants, a phosphoric acid plant, a nitric acid plant, a fertilizer plant, a fertilizer bagging facility, and a research facility for phosphates are located at the Yara Siilinjärvi site. Whilst the factories began their operations in 1969, the mine itself was launched in 1979. The apatite concentration in the ore extracted from the mine is the lowest of all the exploited apatite deposits in the world (approximately 4.2% P2O5 in situ). Apatite concentration is separated from ore by a flotation separation process in which the P2O5 concentration will rise to 36.5%. Approximately 80% of the apatite is utilised in the Siilinjärvi phosphoric acid factory, where apatite is dissolved in sulphuric acid, producing a process in which not only phosphoric acid but also gypsum is produced. Phosphoric acid and apatite are used as raw material for phosphoric in manufacturing fertilizers, both at the Siilinjärvi fertilizer factory and at the other factories belonging to the company. Of phosphoric acid, feed phosphates are manufactured at the Yara factory in Kokkola.

//

Toiminta-alue: The Silinjärvi mine

Yhteystiedot vastuullisuusasioissa:

Teija Kankaanpää
teija.kankaanpaa@yara.com
+358 (0)50 568 6001

The company in figures in 2015

• Tuotantomäärä: A total of 1,028,276 tonnes: apatite, 956,564 tonnes; lime, 21,707 tonnes; biotite, 38,169 tonnes; mica products, 11,836.
• Kokonaislouhinta: 30.8 million tonnes (ore 45,2%, gangue 54.8%)
• Raportoidut malmivarat: 205 million tonnes (3.70% P2O5)
• Raportoidut mineraalivarannot: Measured, 260 million tonnes (3.8% of P2O5); proven, 628 million tonnes (3.77% P2O5)
• Toiminnan aloitusvuosi: 1979 (mining activities)
• Kaivoksen arvioitu jäljellä oleva elinikä: 15-20 years
• Kaivosalueen pinta-ala: 2,648 hectares (100% in the ownership of Yara)
• Malminetsintäalueen pinta-ala: 1,931ha
• Omien työntekijöiden määrä: 86
• Työntekijöiden pääasialliset asuinkunnat: Siilinjärvi 53%, Kuopio 36%, others 11% Total number of permanent contractors: 230
• Vakituisten urakoitsijoiden määrä: 230
• Käyttökate EBITDA: he economic indicators of the Siilinjärvi mine are not reported separately; rather, they are included in those of Yara Suomi Oy and Yara International ASA.
• Maksettu yhteisövero: Unreported

About exploration

In its mining areas, Yara Suomi Oy conducts not only mining but also exploration. In 2015, the company was granted a permit to carry out exploration in the areas surrounding the Siilinjärvi mine area. In exploration, Yara Suomi Oy makes use of deep drilling, geophysical measurements, RC drilling and bedrock mapping. In 2015, a total of 28 km of deep drilling was carried out, limited to a single mining area.

Environment

Yrityksen ympäristökäytannöt:

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

* Certified in accordance to the ISO 14001 standard

Keskeiset tunnusluvut:

• Amount of extractive waste: 27,542,034 t (gangue 63.2%, tailings 36.8%)
• Utilisation of gangue: 29% of gangue is used.
• Fuel consumption: 209.7GWh (the proportion of non-renewable energy is 100%)
• Other energy consumption (electricity and heat): electricity, 172.4GWh (of which the proportion of nuclear power accounts for 47.7%; that of renewable energy, 12.6%, non-renewable energy, 0.7%, and reaction heat produced by the production of sulphuric acid at the company’s own power plant, 38%); heat,  65.2GWh
• Water consumption: 11 million m3 (of which natural raw water accounts for 20%)
• Number of dams in the mining area: 5 (3 pcs Class 1 and 2 pcs Class 3)
• Number of endangered species occurring in the operational area: 2
• Usage of chemicals dangerous to the environment: flotation chemical, 1,363.1t
• The diversity of nature is compensated by stocking fish. Furthermore, the restoration of Lake Kolmisoppi was initiated in summer 2015, with the process encompassing both maintenance and intensified fishing, removal of aquatic vegetation and dredging. The restoration programme will be continued until 2019.

Personnel and safety

Yrityksen henkilöstökäytännöt:

• Employee initiative programme exists: yes
• Goal and development dialogue programme covering the entire personnel: yes
• Personnel training plan: yes
• Equality plan: yes
• Personnel representation in company management: yes
• Occupational and safety management system: yes
• All personnel working in the area are in possession of an occupational health card: yes
• Company rescue unit: yes

* Certified in accordance with the OHSAS 18001 standard, which is also applied to contractors

Keskeiset tunnusluvut vuonna:

2015

• Average number of training days per year: 2 days / employee
• Absence due to sickness (excluding contractors): 3.6 %
• Lost-time injury frequency rate: 3.9 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, 3-shift system, 8-hour working day system, flexitime, working day system (Mon to Fri), 6:4 system (6 days of work, 4 days of leisure)

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

Vaikutukset paikallisiin elinkeinoihin: Impact on local sources of livelihood: No mining and exploration is carried out in the reindeer management area. The municipality, inhabitants of neighbouring areas, land owners and those earning their livelihood from rural activities are taken into consideration in the company’s stakeholder collaboration.

Vaikutukset lähialueen virkistyskäyttöön:

According to the assessment of the company itself, its activities have impacted the recreational use of the neighbouring areas. The impact has involved berry and mushroom picking, fishing and hiking.
At the time the mine was founded and when its operations were expanded, it acquired areas (amounting to 3,800 ha today) which are no longer available for recreational use. The activities of the mine have also impacted Syrjänlampi Pond and Lake Kolmisoppi, located outside the mining area, the recreational value of which has deteriorated due to eutrophication.

Vaikutukset maisema-arvoon:

Landscape values have been taken into account in the operations of the company. Issues taken into account include landscaping plans for deposit areas and their adaptation to the landscape

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

Sidosryhmäyhteistyö:

• In 2015, the company set up a collaboration group for the area surrounding the Siilinjärvi site, tasked with increasing interaction between the various actors. The group convenes twice a year.
• The company has arranged evening meetings and information and open day events.
• In collaboration with the Kolmisoppi Village Association, the company has prepared a restoration plan for Lake Kolmisoppi.
• A great number of visitor groups representing educational institutes, various associations and clubs visit the mine.
• The company has arranged visits related to fertilizer business (customers, distributors and research institutes).
• Stakeholder collaboration is not regular in nature but rather takes place when the need arises.
• A channel is available for stakeholders to submit feedback, and practices are in place for processing it

Tutkimus- ja yhteistyöhankkeet:

Unreported