Project partners: IVL Svenska Miljöinstitutet AB and LKAB
Grant: SEK 300,000
Project duration: 2025-11-15 to 2026-05-14
Contact person: Erik Kärrman, IVL
Purpose and objectives
Ore mining is dependent on water in its processes and mining affects surrounding water bodies. When mining ore in underground and open pit mines, nitrogen-based explosives are used and it is inevitable that unexploded explosive residues and also spills come into contact with water in the mine and refining process, whereby nitrate is washed out to the process water. A combination of treatment technologies has been identified and discussed at the Innovation Workshop in spring 2025. The plan is now to test and, if necessary, update this solution in two stages. The goal of the project (step 1) is twofold 1) to develop a sustainable nitrogen purification solution for LKAB in Kiruna based on precipitation, combined with denitrification and phosphorus purification 2) develop a plan for testing the purification arrangement.
Expected impacts and results
The expected result is a process design for the treatment of mine water that will enable environmental quality standards to be met in terms of emissions of nitrogen, phosphorus and COD. The results will be useful for all Swedish mines and the knowledge also has the potential to be exported.
Planned approach and implementation
This stage 1 project is implemented in the form of two work packages that follow each other in time order 1) Status assessment and data basis which, in addition to compiling information on the mine water and previous trials with treatment, also includes a workshop for the project team on site in Kiruna 2) Planning of trials with the selected process design. These trials will be included in a stage 2 application planned for 2026.
The text on this page was written by the project team. The content has not been reviewed by our editors.
Goals and tasks
- Thriving and healthy waters
- Reduce eutrophication in lakes and watercourses
- Reduce negative impact on water ecosystems
