On 22 October, Viscaria will inaugurate its new water treatment plant – one of the most advanced facilities of its kind and a crucial step in reopening the mine in Kiruna. Ahead of the inauguration, we took the opportunity to speak with Viscaria’s Head of Environment and Sustainability, Peter Wihlborg, about the commissioning process and what comes next.
The inauguration of Viscaria’s water treatment plant takes place tomorrow – how are things progressing?
– The process of emptying the old mine actually began on 1 October, and so far, it’s going very well! It’s a major undertaking – the mine holds roughly six million cubic metres of water that will be gradually pumped out under strictly controlled conditions. We are currently running test operations and fine-tuning the plant to ensure it’s ready for full-scale operation.
Tomorrow’s inauguration marks an important milestone for the entire project – a key step in moving from construction to operation. We’re really looking forward to welcoming all our guests and showcasing the facility.
What makes this water treatment plant so special?
It’s a unique facility with a capacity of 1,000 m³ per hour, developed together with Finnish partner Teollisuuden Vesi. It is the first of its kind in the mining industry to combine sand filtration and ion exchange technology on an industrial scale, making it possible to remove up to 95–99 percent of metals such as copper, zinc, and uranium from the process water.
The water treatment plant sets a completely new standard that exceeds both Swedish and international environmental requirements, and it is a cornerstone in our plan to operate Viscaria in a modern and sustainable way.
What have you planned for the inauguration itself?
– We’ve invited partners, local stakeholders, and representatives from various authorities to the opening of the water treatment plant. The event will include a guided tour of the facility, presentations, and an opportunity to meet the team behind the project.
We’ll also take visitors on a tour of Kiruna to show the city relocation. This is truly a unique place; the professionalism of the companies and the people here, and their care for the environment and nature, stand out. If there’s anywhere mining should take place, it’s here – and that’s what we hope to demonstrate.
You’ve recently applied for changes to the provisional conditions in your environmental permit. Why?
– During new sampling in parts of the mine that were previously inaccessible, we discovered slightly higher levels of substances such as sulphate and uranium, which affect treatment capacity. Therefore, we have submitted an application to the Land and Environment Court requesting that the permitted levels in the treated water be temporarily adjusted upwards during the trial period – a three-year phase in which the plant will be tested and optimised.
Even with these adjustments, the treated water will still be significantly cleaner than the water that currently seeps naturally from the mine, and we continue to meet all applicable legal and environmental quality standards.
What happens next?
Opening the water treatment plant and starting the dewatering process is a major step towards reopening the mine. It gives us the drive to continue working with the same focus and pace. The dewatering itself will continue through most of next year, and once the water level has dropped sufficiently, we can begin rehabilitating the lower sections of the mine in preparation for reopening – something we look forward to sharing more about soon!