14.10-14.15 Introduction, Jenny Greberg, Programme Director at Swedish Mining Innovation

14.15-14.30 Mining at High Latitudes in a Changing Climate
For high-latitude areas, long-term (100-200 year) climate predictions indicate the likelihood of significant changes in annual and seasonal air/soil temperature, the type and amount of precipitation, energy balance characteristics, and evaporative regimes. Such changes are anticipated to have a pronounced effect on the water balances of mines and the strategies to manage water, effluent, and environmental impacts during operations and post-closure. In turn, such changes pose risks to the social, reputational, and economic impacts on the mining sector. To illustrate these concepts, climate change predictions are provided for two mine sites, one located in the Canadian Arctic and the other in northern Sweden. The predictions are used to highlight the challenges associated with mining in a changing climate with regards to water and mine waste management. Methods for the development of climate-scaled water balances for mine closure planning are also discussed. The paper concludes with a discussion of the importance of, and uncertainties inherent in climate change scenario data, and summarizes the challenges and opportunities faced by mining operators in northern latitudes.

Alan Martin, Principal and Senior Scientist, Lorax Environmental Services Ltd. 

14.30-14.45 Value in waste is it worth it?  ReeMAP new industry in Northern Sweden
My reflections and thoughts regarding LKAB and Business Area Special Products work with creating valuable elements from our secondary products. The ReeMAP project will also be presented.

Lars Vikström, Chief Technical Officer, LKAB Business Area Special Products

14.45-15.00 Collaboration between LKAB and Boliden to recycle mining waste and create circular products
In LKAB’s planned process of apatite – which is an extractive waste – is reprocessed with low carbon dioxide footprint into several valuable products, such as phosphoric acid, rare earth elements, fluorine and gypsum. However, the process does not only need apatite, but also sulfuric acid, which can be produced from another extractive waste – pyrite from Boliden. By combining two different extractive waste materials both LKAB and Boliden can reduce their total waste volumes and valorize the waste into valuable and green products.

Ulrika Håkansson, LKAB and Erik Ronne, Ph.D. Research Program Manager, Boliden

15.00-15.30 Swedish fika

15.30-15.45 Water treatment through technical solutions and environmental awareness
Water is essential for mining. Both in the mining processes and when milling the ore. Responsible usage of water in terms of quality and quantity has also become a critical question for the industry to be granted environmental permits. Zinkgruvan mining AB is about to build a water treatment plant for metals, nitrogen and sulphate. While investigating a suitable solution Zinkgruvan mining is undertaking short term solutions on seepage water and has replaced critical chemicals in the process. Internal education on the water’s passage through the operation and cooperation between departments has been equally important to reduce the impact from the operations.

Charlotte Odenberger, Environmental Manager and DSA at Zinkgruvan Mining AB

15.45-16.00 Strategic and safe management of tailings facility’s is controlled by combining technical solutions and education of all personnel involved in dams
The most important instrument for surveillance of dam facility’s  is the human brain, none of the incidents recorded at site has been detected by installed instruments, or even in hindsight has no registered changes been detected. We need to focus more on educate and engage our personnel to understand the triggers and settings that lead to incidents. And also design safer dams that ensures dam safety.

Staffan Fahlgren, Responsible Tailings Facility Engineer (RTFE), Zinkgruvan Mining

16.00-16.15 European vision on responsible sourcing of raw materials
The shift to net-carbon-neutrality and technology-driven innovation in the context of the EU Green Deal and the Twin Transition translates into increasing demands for critical and strategic raw materials. Combined with Europe’s high import dependency, this emphasises the need to act and address the responsible sourcing of primary and secondary raw materials as outlined in the EU principles for sustainable raw materials. Europe’s clean, green, and digital future relies significantly on minerals and metals that should be sourced responsibly and managed sustainably along supply chains. Boosting European exploration and mining efforts (from greenfield to post-closure) and strengthening processing capabilities for critical strategic raw materials are vital steps along the path to a more sustainable future. In this context, smart solutions to i) achieve a more targeted and cost-effective exploration and quicker transition to operation; ii) reduce the environmental footprint of mining and processing, and iii) to improve the efficiency of mineral and metallurgical processing are at the core of the activities of EIT RawMaterials.

Patrick Nadoll, Senior Advisor – Exploration and Resource Assessment at EIT RawMaterials

16.15-17.00 Responsible Mining – A Global Challenge – paneldiscussion
European companies are faced with a rapid expansion of regulatory requirements for the responsible production and sourcing of raw materials. Customers and investors will require up-to-date and credible data on responsible practices for copper and other raw materials in their products. In this paneldiscussion, we look to explore:
– How can voluntary standards support European companies’ in meeting regulatory, investor and customer demands?
-What role do voluntary standards play in promoting responsible practices across the mining industry and globally?
-What tools are available to companies to demonstrate responsible practices and how do these fit together?
-What is your view on legislation related to responsibly sourcing? Can we speed up and increase responsible sourcing world-wide with more extensive legislation, is it possible?
-Is there a risk that voluntary standards are used for green-washing?
-Responsible sourcing is by many considered business-critical. But, do we really se the end-customer demand for responsibly sourced products? How can we push this demand?

Patrick Nadoll, Senior Advisor Exploration and Resource Assessment at EIT RawMaterials, Michèle Brülhart, Executive Director of the Copper Mark, Klaudia Michalska, Impacts Analyst at Aluminium Stewardship Initiative, Elin Eriksson, Director Key Accounts and Assignments at IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Alexander Graf, project manager and research fellow at Vienna University of Economics and Business