The project consists of several sub-projects, and the lion’s share of the investments has been allocated to:
- Reinforcing all dams in Aitik to ensure long-term stability.
- New processing facilities for future water management with greater recycling of process water.
- Extending the electrical and automation facilities around the tailings dams for more efficient operation.
These measures will ensure future production at Aitik by means of greater dam safety and improved water management, with better opportunities for storing and reusing the water.
The investment is central to Boliden’s strategy for reducing the company’s total environmental impact. By establishing favorable conditions for safe and stable mining, with a high level of dam safety and an efficient, redundant water management system, the project will help reduce climate impact in the surrounding area.
The short timeframe has been one of the biggest challenges in the project, which required the dam and process facilities to be built while the mine continued to operate at full capacity. This placed extreme demands on effective planning, coordination, and flexibility, and proved decisive for the success of the project. The tight schedule also required good coordination among a large number of contractors and professionals. To maintain a safe and efficient work environment, Boliden prioritized clear communication and a solid safety culture, along with a dedicated Occupational Safety, Health and Environment (OSHE) organization on-site at Aitik.
A key factor in driving the industry forward has been the implementation of new technologies and innovative work methods. One example is the cutting-edge Autonomous Haulage System (AHS) for driverless trucks. Boliden is the first company in Europe to introduce AHS, the aim of which is to increase the safety of employees and optimize the efficiency of the vehicle fleet.
The new mine environment was designed from the ground up to accommodate AHS, and the plan is to further expand the system and enable the implementation of the technology in other Boliden mines.
The $500 million investment has proved invaluable for bolstering dam safety and for meeting the latest industry standards, which bodes well for Aitik’s future. The new measures will not affect the established production capacity of 45 million tons per year. This level has been achieved in individual months and quarters, but the goal - once all the measures have been implemented and conditions are optimal - is to ensure stable production of 45 million tons per year.
