As the November issue of International Mining leaves to be printed, news in too late to include in the issue’s Nordic mining special is that the Eastern Finland Environmental Permit Authority has just granted an environmental permit for mining and ore concentration at Belvedere Resource’ Luikonlahti mill complex in eastern Finland. The mill was purchased by Belvedere in October 2007, and when re-commissioning is completed, will form the nucleus of the Kotalahti Production Centre in Central Finland. The central mill allows ore to be developed from a number of nearby deposits for low capital expenditures. The first of these projects, the Hautalampi mine, is scheduled to open in the second half of 2009. A large portion of the underground development is already in place, allowing mining to start soon after dewatering is completed. Mining is planned to commence utilising Belvedere’s existing personnel and equipment. David Pym CEO comments “This permit is one of the last steps required prior to opening the Hautalampi mine, Belvedere’s third mine in Finland. The high value of the copper and cobalt byproducts and modest capital requirements, make this a robust project even at current commodity prices.”