In Finland, communities get strong say on uranium mining

The small town of Levi in northeast Finland, seen from the top of nearby hill that now hosts a tourist hotel and an alpine ski run. Though the community is ecstatic about the construction of Agnico-Eagle’s Kittilä gold mine, residents are divided over uranium mining. (PHOTO BY JIM BELL)

KITILLÄ, FINLAND — Visitors from Nunavut learned last week that in Finland, it’s possible for municipalities to block uranium mines proposed for lands within their jurisdictions.

“Municipalities can veto a uranium mine,” said Errki Kantola, an official with Finland’s ministry of the environment.

But that’s only if there is a valid legal reason for doing so, such as conformity with land use regulations.

Ultimately, no uranium mine may be established without the approval of the Finnish cabinet, and within the approval and permitting process, municipalities “play a major role,” Kantola said.

At the same time, uranium mining and the use of nuclear energy is a subject of great controversy in the country.

A small Canadian firm called Scandinavian Gold Prospecting has submitted a uranium application for an area within the Kittilä district, but the Helsingin Sanomat newspaper reported recently that the company may withdraw its claim because the Finnish government objects to the size of the area covered by their claim.

“It is the one type of mine that many people don’t like,” said Anna Mäkelä, the mayor of Kittilä.

The French company Cogema, owned by Areva is now exploring for uranium in Finland, as are two small British firms.

Kantola and other Finnish officials said Finnish legislation puts uranium mining in a category of its own, and that it’s governed by the country’s nuclear energy act.

At the same time, most of Finland’s major political parties are divided wthin themselves over nuclear energy and the use of uranium. For that reason, most parties allow their MPs to vote with their conscience on nuclear issues.

The only exceptions are the Green party and the right-wing populist True Finns party, both of which are categorically opposed to uranium mining.

The country generates about 30 per cent of its electrical power from four nuclear reactors located within two plants.

A fifth nuclear reactor, at the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant, is now being constructed by the French energy giant Areva. That project is more than three years behind schedule and at least 50 per cent over budget.

Agnico-Eagles Ltd. flew a large group of Nunavut residents, most of them from the Kivalliq, to Kittilä, Finland this past week to observe their gold mine there and to meet with local and national officials.