Landowners plan united front over Suhangon mine pipeline

Landowners along the route of a proposed wastewater pipeline for the Suhangon mine plan to form a negotiating group, Yle reports. They hope to use collective bargaining to secure better terms from the mining company.

About 10 landowners attended a meeting in Tervola on Tuesday, with around five more joining remotely. The meeting was organised by MTK Lapland and the Lapland Forest Management Association. Aino Kurtti, a field manager for MTK Lapland’s forest owners’ division, said the group would invite all landowners along the route to a meeting expected in January.

Suhanko Arctic Platinum wants to build a pipeline carrying treated wastewater from the proposed mine in Ranua across privately owned land for more than 50 kilometres to Tervola and the Kemijoki River.

The company sent contract proposals to 166 landowners earlier this autumn. Many have considered the terms inadequate. The proposed agreement would give the company the right to take possession of land immediately, clear trees and build the pipeline, pumping stations and maintenance roads. The agreement would last 99 years.

Kurtti said the proposals contain unclear and questionable clauses. One inconsistency, she said, is that the company says forestry can continue as usual while also prohibiting the planting of tree seedlings.

Some landowners have already signed agreements with the company. Kurtti said they were still being invited to join the negotiating group, adding that unclear clauses in signed agreements could be revised based on previous experience.