Swedish Minerals can drill for uranium despite pending appeal

Swedish Minerals can drill soil samples while an appeal against its exploration permit remains pending, Yle reported. The company is searching for uranium in the Riutta area of Eno, in Joensuu.

The Eastern Finland Administrative Court issued an interim decision on Wednesday allowing the drilling, but tightened the conditions attached to the work.

Drilling is permitted only within the area specified by the exploration company. A permit issued by the Finnish agency Tukes would have allowed exploration across a larger area.

The conditions also require the company to use a fully closed water circulation system during drilling. Swedish Minerals said closed water circulation is already part of its operating practices.

Local landowners and environmental organisations appealed against the exploration permit issued by Tukes. They fear that drilling could release radioactive substances and heavy metals into the environment.

The appellants said the permit area contains numerous natural springs, streams and brooks. Their main concern is Kuusoja and the streams in its drainage basin, which support endangered populations of brown trout, grayling and freshwater crayfish.

Swedish Minerals had asked Tukes for permission to begin drilling despite the appeal. Tukes granted the request with restrictions, saying the exploration would not cause harm serious enough to justify delaying the work during the court proceedings.

The administrative court will consider the appeals against the actual exploration permit at a later stage.