Invest in Finland

Kevitsa mine in northern Finland to start production in summer 2012

17/02/2012

The Kevitsa nickel and copper mine in northern Finland, owned by the Canadian company First Quantum Minerals Ltd, has been commissioned and will start commercial production in July-August 2012. According to the company, Kevitsa’s estimated measured and indicated resources of 240 million tonnes grading 0.30% nickel, 0.28% nickel sulphide and 0.41% copper is sufficient to support a mine life of over 30 years at a treatment rate of 5 million tonnes per year.

At this rate, Kevitsa is expected to produce 10,000 tonnes of nickel and 20,000 tonnes of copper annually. First Quantum Minerals Ltd is currently pursuing approval from the Finnish authorities to increase the throughput rate to 7.5 million tonnes per year. Exploration activities are also continuing on promising geophysical targets on the fringe of the Kevitsa resource.

Andrew Reid has been named as the new director of the Kevitsa mine, which currently employs 146 people, and is located approximately 142 kilometres north-northeast of Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland. The ore will be transported to the ports of Kemi or Oulu or by truck to Sweden.

Sources: Lapin Kansa, First Quantum Minerals Ltd