Substantial progress has been made at Aitik with regard to the recycling of process water and reducing relative water consumption. The available part of the stored water volume in the tailings pond has been increased by reducing the amount of water frozen during the winter. This has been
achieved by shortening the pump route for the tailings sand by locating the concentrator closer to the tailings pond.
Water flows have also been increased in conjunction with higher production levels. Collectively, these measures have resulted in more heat being introduced to the pond in the form of water heated during the concentrating process.
The process for taking recycled water from the clarification pond has, furthermore, been changed so that it is now pumped, having previously gone via a spillway outlet. The new set-up, with direct pumping, means that the taking of water from the clarification pond can be adapted in line with the concentrator's requirements, which is expected to reduce the relative water consumption figures.