Eastern Uusimaa residents grill uranium company about exploration rights

print this

Finnish authorities and the representatives of the French uranium company Cogema got an unenthusiastic reception at the information meetings arranged for the citizens of Askola and Pukkila in the Eastern Uusimaa region on Monday evening.
      "We wish the representatives of Cogema as well as other French people welcome here as tourists, but we do not wish to have any mining activities in Askola. Do you not get the message", Pirjo Puttonen of Askola asked the representatives of Cogema, the company seeking exploration rights in Askola and Pukkila.
      Her father Yrjö Puttonen predicted that if the Ministry of Trade and Industry's decision on the exploration rights is positive, an appeal will definitely be filed.
     
Chief Inspector of Mines Krister Söderholm of the Ministry of Trade and Industry commented that according to the Director of the Cogema Mining Business Unit Rémy Autebert, the company will not set out any operations in the area, if the residents are against the project.
      According to Managing Director Pauli Saksa of JP-Fintact, Cogema's Finnish representative, Autebert meant actual mining operations - not exploration.
     
The municipality of Askola is to make its decision on Wednesday. The decision is expected to be negative, as the publicity surrounding the uranium exploration rights is seen to have adverse effects on the development of the municipality.
      Cogema is a subsidiary of the French energy group Areva. Apart from Cogema, also many other foreign companies are seeking exploration rights in several parts of Finland, including Lapland, Northern Karelia, and Southwestern Finland.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Four foreign mining companies prospect for uranium in Finland (18.1.2006)

Links:
  Cogema
  JP-Fintact

Helsingin Sanomat