Boliden has been granted an environmental permit for an increase in the annual production rate in Garpenberg. As a result of the decision, bottleneck investments can be initiated with the aim of increasing production to 3.3 Mt/y of ore (milled volume). “This is a very welcome decision that gives us the opportunity to continue to strengthen productivity in Garpenberg. In addition, we are meeting increased demand with additional zinc with world-leading sustainability performance,” said Stefan Romedahl, President Business Area Mines, Boliden.

Production in Garpenberg today amounts to approximately 3 Mt/y, which has also been the highest permitted volume within the existing environmental permit. The new environmental permit means, among other things, that capacity reinforcements in the transport infrastructure can be initiated with a focus on reaching a production volume of 3.3 Mt in 2023. The environmental permit follows a decision from Land and Environmental Court of Appeal not to grant appeal. The decision can be appealed to the Supreme Court until November 1, 2021.

Garpenberg ore is refined into metal concentrates containing zinc but also copper, lead, gold and silver. It is the world’s most productive underground zinc mine and is also Sweden’s oldest mining area still in operation.