On 22 October, Viscaria inaugurated its new water treatment plant, WTP1000, one of the most advanced facilities of its kind in Europe. More than 160 guests attended the ceremony, which marked an important milestone on the road towards the restart of the Viscaria mine.
World-class technology, built for the future of mining
The new water treatment plant has been developed in close cooperation with Teollisuuden Vesi Oy (TeVe) and several local contractors. The plant is designed to meet strict environmental standards and ensure that the water leaving the site maintains the highest possible quality, both during commissioning and future production.
The treatment process includes several stages that utilise advanced filtration and ion-exchange technology, efficiently removing metals and other substances. The system enables real-time monitoring and control of all key parameters, which is essential for responsible mining in Kiruna both today and in the future.
Strong interest from Sweden and Finland
The inauguration brought together guests from Sweden and Finland, including Maria Sunér, CEO of Svemin, Maija Vidqvist, CEO of Teollisuuden Vesi, Tobias Baudin, Party Secretary of the Social Democrats, Mats Taaveniku, Chair of the Municipal Executive Committee in Kiruna, Jonas Lundström, Industrial Coordinator at Accelerationskontoret, and Janus Brandin, Regional Development Director at Region Norrbotten. Malin Ljung Eiborn, Head of Sustainability at Rejlers, and Olli-Matti Verta from the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry also attended, along with representatives from industry, authorities and politics.
The theme of the event highlighted the Finnish-Swedish partnership between Viscaria and Teollisuuden Vesi, and the shared responsibility held by both countries, the mining sector and policy makers for the Torne River and the surrounding environment.
Upon arrival, guests were greeted by a calm and luminous atmosphere with wave-inspired blue and turquoise lighting, floating yellow, white and blue balloons, and ice blocks from Icehotel created using water from the Torne River. The ice blocks symbolised the plant’s treatment capacity of 1,000 cubic metres per hour, which was both impressive in scale and a reminder of the strength of Nordic environmental technology.
Recognition for the entire team
For Viscaria’s employees, the inauguration represents more than the completion of a construction project. It is the result of years of planning, technical expertise and cooperation involving many different partners.
“This is a day to be proud of. Our team has invested an enormous amount of work to reach this point, and it was very clear to all guests how much knowledge and commitment exists within the organisation and among our contractors,” says Peter Tornéus, Project Manager for the water treatment plant.
An important piece of the puzzle
WTP1000 is one of several key investments in preparation for the restart of Viscaria.
“The water treatment plant shows how we transform our words about responsibility into action. It lays the foundation for a future where mining, environmental responsibility and community development go hand in hand,” says Jörgen Olsson, CEO of Viscaria.
See more from the inauguration
In the film “Voices from the inauguration of Viscaria’s water treatment plant”, guests from Sweden and Finland share their reflections on Viscaria’s work, cross-border collaboration and the importance of sustainable technology in the mining industry of the future.
You can also read SVT’s interview from the inauguration here, where Viscaria’s Head of Environment and Sustainability, Peter Wihlborg, gives further insight into the plant and its significance.