Extensive licensing procedures

Boliden's mines and smelters require licenses from a range of government agencies to conduct their respective operations. This applies equally to new production units and to the expansion of existing facilities and exploration work.

Current licensing procedures

The Boliden Area

The concentrator plant
In July 2010 Boliden submitted a license application for the concentrator plant to the Environmental Court. One of the main reasons is that Boliden intends to introduce a few new processes in the plant.

The Kristineberg Mine

The work with an application for a new permit is under progress. The application needs renewal as well as Boliden is planning for increased production in the mine.

Aitik

Plans for compiling a new application in order to expand the tailings storage facility for future use are being formed.

Rönnskär

Since 2009 Rönnskär copper smelter is processing for a reconsideration of the current environmental permit. In 2010 a separate application for final deep repository storage of hazardous process waste was submitted to the Environmental Court. 

Tara

Tara zinc mine has made an application for a revision of their IPPC license (Integrated Pollution Prevention Control License) to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).

Bergsöe

Bergsöe lead smelter is awaiting the decision of the Environmental Court regarding the application for a new license, including all their operations, that was submitted in 2010.

Harjavalta

The copper smelter

An updated environmental license was submitted to the Finnish Environmental authorities in May 2011.

The Electrolytic refinery in Pori

A final decision on the renewed environmental license was received, after appeal, in 2007. According to the current license an update shall be submitted in 2013.

Kokkola

The zinc smelter
The decision from the Environmental Courts regarding an appealed environmental permit is still to be awaited.

The sulphuric acid plant

Permit application for is being processed by the Environmental Court.

Exploration permits

Boliden holds 144 field exploration permits in Sweden, covering a total area of 174 688 hectares. We are awaiting the granting of 15 submitted applications for a total of 25 126 hectares.

Boliden Tara Mines holds 94 granted prospecting licenses in Ireland for exploration of a total of 302 400 hectares.