Facts about Boliden Area
Established: 1924
Employees: 700
Active mines: Kristineberg, Renström, Kankberg
Key metals: Zink, copper, lead, gold and silver
- Sustainability
- Recycling
- Mines
Investment in sand recycling contributes to circular mining
At Boliden, we work systematically to reduce our climate impact and develop solutions that strengthen a circular and resource-efficient approach. A good example is our recycling of tailings sand in the Boliden Area, where we produce paste for mine backfilling.
Tailings are a residual material that arises during the processing of mined ore and has traditionally been stored in a reservoir at Hötjärn in Boliden. However, capacity there is limited and would eventually be unable to accommodate the quantities of sand required for continued mining in the Boliden Area.
To ensure long-term capacity and operational reliability, we invested SEK 2.5 billion in a modern sand recycling facility at the concentrator in Boliden. There, the tailings are used to create a material that serves as backfill in our active mines in Kankberg and Renström, as well as part of the reclamation of the closed open pit mine in Maurliden.
At the new facility, the sand is dewatered and, once dry, transported to mixing stations in Kankberg, Renström, and Maurliden. There, water and binders are added to form a paste of the optimal consistency. Together, the mixing stations have the capacity to handle the entire flow from the concentrator.
Innovative technology enables sustainable reclamation
We use different methods for mine restoration and adapt them to local conditions. The technology used in the Boliden Area enables long-term sustainable reclamation. Once backfilling is complete, the area can be restored and used as productive forest land, instead of being left as water-filled open pits. This allows the land to return to a more natural state, with enhanced biodiversity and opportunities for future land use. In addition, the need for external fill material is reduced as residual products are recycled instead of being stored.
Investment in sand recycling is an important part of Boliden's strategy to reduce the company's overall environmental impact. It includes more circular mining operations where resources are reused in the mining process or in reclamation. The goal is to create an efficient resource cycle where material flows and energy are optimized to reduce environmental impact and extend the life of the mining area. For us at Boliden, this is a natural part of our work to produce metals with the least possible impact on nature.
