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    Why we pump out water

    When we extract ore from our open pit mine, we go below the groundwater level. This means we need to pump out water to access the ore.

    Both groundwater and rainwater and melted snow are pumped away and purified through sedimentation. During periods when water levels are high, excess water is pumped out to the Mounio River, a process we refer to as discharge. The need for discharge is minimized by reusing as much water as possible in the processes on site.

    Some documents available on our website are currently only available in Swedish. We are working towards making all content available in English as well. Thank you for your understanding and patience as we strive to improve accessibility for all users.

    Diagram titled "Vattnets Väg" showing the water flow process in a mining operation. It includes Dagbrott, sedimentation basin, process water, sand magazine, and pumping stations. Labels in Swedish.

    The largest quantities are pumped during the snowmelt period in April and May. The water that is pumped out may contain natural substances that affect its color, but it is not harmful.

    We continuously measure and analyze to ensure that we do not exceed any limits or have a negative impact on the Mounio River. In the years that Kaunis Iron has operated the open pit mine, there have been no issues regarding water quality.

    Check out our informational video on why we pump water and what the process looks like.

    This film is currently only available in swedish. We are working towards making all content available in english as well. Thank you for your understanding and patience as we strive to improve accessibility for all users.

    See also

    An open-pit mine with large rocky walls and heavy machinery, including dump trucks and excavators, operating on different levels within the quarry.

    Our operations

    We want to develop a mining industry for future generations here in Tornedalen. Create a long-term perspective that secures our company and the jobs we generate for many, many years to come.

    Person in high-visibility clothing collects water samples from a stream in a rocky, forested area.

    Sustainability

    The decisions we make take into account the three perspectives of sustainability: social sustainability, ecological sustainability and economic sustainability.

    A close-up of a cloudberry, an orange fruit with a bumpy surface, growing on a stem with blurred greenery in the background.

    Sustainability reporting and certifications

    An open pit affects nature in a dramatic way. But, apart from the fact that we mine the ore in the mining area, our operations should not have any other direct negative impact on the environment. To follow up on our environmental work, we make environmental reports every year.