The government would ease the deposit requirements for mining waste

The government proposes that the VAT portion be removed from the waste deposits for waste areas for extractive waste. The amendment to the Environmental Protection Act aims to improve the operating conditions of the mining sector and reduce companies' financing costs.

In the future, the waste security calculation for extractive waste waste areas made in connection with the environmental permit would not take into account value added tax for the costs estimated to arise from waste management activities related to the cessation of operations. 

The change would affect approximately 40 mining companies. In the future, when calculating the amount of the security, VAT on the costs of waste management activities related to the cessation of operations would not be taken into account.

The change would also apply to existing environmental permits. Companies could apply to the Licensing and Supervision Agency for a review of the security and exemption of the VAT portion.

The date of entry into force of the Act would be determined later by a Government decree.

New permit review procedure for mining and concentrator operations

The Government has also given Parliament presentation, which proposes a new procedure for reviewing permit regulations for mining and concentrator operations in the Environmental Protection Act.

The proposal would allow the permit provisions to be specified after the start of the operation, once the scope and impacts of the operation have been clarified.

A new section 71 would be added to the Environmental Protection Act. The corresponding section, which applied to all activities subject to an environmental permit, was repealed in 2015.

According to the provision now being proposed, the Licensing and Supervision Agency could order a review of the environmental permit for new mining and concentrator operations or a substantial change in operations.

An order could be issued if a review is deemed to be necessary for compelling reasons due to uncertainties related to environmental impacts or the novelty of the technology to be introduced in the operation.

Text: Uusiuutisten editorial team

Image: Adobe Stock. The government has issued new legislative proposals for mining.