Seppo Maula

Mayor (retired)

Maula Conculting Oy

Seppo Maula,

Kittilä Mayor, retired

Reasons for Kittilä to have a positive

attitude towards mining

1. History

- In the 90´s the unemployment rate was 25 – 30 %

- Tourist Industry offered about 7 000 beds

- Agriculture and Forest Industry decreasing

- Population declining and the young ones wanted to leave

- Imago was missing

2. Development

- Suurikuusikko gold deposit was found in 1986

- Exploration advanced rapidly

-The authorities of the Kittilä Municipality were informed

-A lot of negotiations with the Municipality

- The Municipality and mining company joined forces in

negotiations with the State of Finland

EU-Projectet - employers- training and educating - enviromental questions and influences - housing, building of apartments - logistics - fresh water and wastewater - new tecnologi - role of state of Finland and EU in enviromental

things and financing - information to local people

- Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd took interest in the gold deposit

- The project advanced fast and the feasibility study was

positive

- The financial requirements for the project good

- AEM informed well the Municipality and its inhabitants

- The environmental impacts of the project communi-

cated very openly with the locals and the authorities

4. Permitting Process

- Excellent co-operation between AEM and

the Municipality and local inhabitants

- Openness

- Permitting process rapid with the State authorities

- Impacts on employment and tax revenues positive

5. Construction of Kittilä Mine

- Strong positive employment impact in the region

- Jobs for approximately 1000 construction workers

- Most of the workers from Kittilä or neighbouring

municipalities

- The education of the workforce succesful

- Co-operation between the Mine and the

Municipality active and working well

6. Current situation: ”BIG FAMILY”

- Kittilä Mine employs over 650 professionals

- Over 400 of the employees live in Kittilä

- The tax revenues of the Municipality increased 15 %

- The unemployment rate sank below 10%

- The number of inhabitants increased, more babies born

- The young ones stay in Kittilä

- The Mine is well accepted and highly respected

- Offers support for local sports and cultural events and

other activities

7. Tourism and Mining

- Tourism has grown: 24 000 beds available and it

employs over 1300 persons

- The total annual revenue of tourism 200 M€,

the Kittilä Mine 200 M€

- Kittilä Mine is located far enough from Levi, 20 km

- Both the tourism and the Mine offer jobs

-The possible expansion of the Mine creates new jobs

- Kittilä Mine informs tourism industry on environmental

matters on a regular basis

- Mining seen in a positive light

- Kittilä Mine increases the use of tourism services

- The attitude towards gold mining is positive

Local people may be the best supporter of mining

OR Local people may be the worst opponent of mining

Give inform

Be onest

Listen to the people

Co-operation

Best consults

Trust on the authorities and co-operate

New culture

Kittilä has two "Gold Mines":

Tourism Industry at Levi and the Kittilä Mine

Thank You!