WASTE MANAGEMENT IN THE NORWEGIAN EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRY

8th International Scientific Conference - SGEM2008, www.sgem.org, SGEM2008 Conference Proceedings/ ISBN: 954-918181-2, June 16-20, 2008, Vol. 1, 267-268 pp

ABSTRACT

Norway is a mineral rich country, and many of the mineral resources are close to the
very long coast-line with ice-free fjords. EU’s Mineral Wastes Directive (2006/21/EC)
implementation date is May 1st, 2008. Strict control is applied to the handle of the
waste from the industries, in addition to financial guarantees in case of accidents and
long term monitoring. Norway’s deep fjords and resources in the vicinity of, or on the
coast, or in narrow valleys near water bodies, therefore have special waste management
considerations, as the space is limited in the valleys and narrow land-bridges along the
fjords. Thus, the possibilities of tailings deposits under-water in artificial lakes or as socalled
Submarine Tailings Placement of inert tailings are being considered. This wastemanagement
technique is not only controlled by the 2006/21/EC, but also by the Water
Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), as so-called Heavily Modified Water Bodies.
Thus, the option, if found to be a more sustainable option as a land based wastesolution,
is still possible under Norwegian law, and will be, with our rugged terrain,
certainly be pursued further in the future.