IM May 2024 May 24 | Page 63

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performance , environment and reduced carbon dioxide emissions . Tests have also been carried out in the Garpenberg mine and are to be started in the Aitik copper mine , the company says .
Back in October , Omnia Holdings announced a strategic partnership with Hypex Bio and the acquisition of a minority equity stake in the company .
Boliden says it has become the first mining operator to sign an agreement for the production and delivery of a newly developed explosive from Sweden ’ s Hypex Bio
able to conduct mining operations that are , in principle , fossil-free .”
The agreement with the Swedish explosives supplier Hypex Bio is for the production and delivery of nitrate-free and environmentally friendly explosives to Kankbergsgruvan , Boliden . Boliden and Hypex will cooperate on the production and delivery of nitrate-free and environmentally friendly explosives to the Kankberg mine , which includes the establishment of a production facility at the mine as well as a delivery and service agreement .
The supply and service agreement for Hypex ’ s explosives solution spans five years , starting in 2024 . The production quantity is expected to amount to 400-450 t and , thus , largely meet the Kankberg mine ’ s annual needs . In addition to the fact that the explosive drastically reduces the need for nitrogen treatment of water , the climate impact is reduced by approximately 400 t of CO 2 per year ( Scope 3 ), Boliden added .
The collaboration between Hypex Bio and
Boliden has been ongoing since 2020 , where the nitrate-free explosive has been developed and tested in the Kankberg mine . The technology has proven to meet Boliden ’ s requirements for safety ,
Tapojärvi begins mining at Kaunis Iron
In freezing temperatures of -40 ° C , Tapojärvi Sverige Ab started its operations as a new mining contractor at the Kaunis Iron mine in Pajala on January 1 , 2024 . “ The contract began as agreed . Rock was quarried and water splashed around . We worked long hours to get everything ready in time . The great thing about being a major operator is that we are able to take over a service package of this scale in only six weeks ,” said Miika Miettinen , Production Manager at Tapojärvi .
The service contract with Kaunis Iron covers machine work in ore production as well as production support work , which includes all opencast production activities other than rock transportation , drilling and charging . The start of a new service contract requires new personnel and equipment to carry out production in line with the contract . Additionally , production control systems , infrastructure , offices , and production

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