Strong Turnout at Community Evenings – Open Discussion on Water, Noise and the Future of the Mine
Endomines hosted two open community evenings in Ilomantsi on 5–6 May 2026 for residents living near the mine. The events were held at the Lehtovaara village hall and at the Pampalo mine, and both venues were filled to capacity. In total, more than 70 participants attended to hear the latest updates from the company. The Pampalo event was also preceded by an opportunity to visit the processing plant.
The aim of the events was to provide up-to-date information on the current status of operations at Pampalo and future plans, and to engage in open discussion with local residents.
“These community evenings are primarily intended for those living near the mine, but this time we saw interest from a wider area as well. There is clearly a real need for these kinds of meetings and opportunities for dialogue,” said Hanne Mäkelä, Chief Sustainability Officer.
Water management drew particular interest
The atmosphere at both events was curious and positive, although some topics raised concerns. At the Lehtovaara event in particular, discussions focused on water management at Pampalo and the development of water treatment.
Ilkka Räty, Chief Operations Officer at Endomines, presented the new water storage basin, which helps reduce the amount of water discharged into the environment. The basin has a capacity of approximately 300,000 cubic metres, improving water management especially during exceptional weather conditions. The principles of closed-loop water circulation and spring flood management were also explained.
“The operation of the Pampalo processing plant relies entirely on water naturally accumulated in the mining area, which is efficiently recycled. Water is only discharged outside the mining area during spring floods and periods of heavy rainfall,” he explained.
Discharges and fish stocks under review
The discussions also covered water discharges and their potential impact on nearby water bodies and fish stocks. Heliminna Modig, Sustainability Manager, noted that fish monitoring conducted in 2023 did not indicate any impact from Pampalo’s operations on fish populations in Lake Hattujärvi.
She also pointed out that in 2026 no water has been discharged from Pampalo towards the Riitaoja direction, meaning that no mine water has reached Lake Hattujärvi via the Sivakkojoki route.
“From the perspective of mining operations, fish from Lake Hattujärvi should taste just the same as before—for both people and cats,” Modig said.
The next fish monitoring survey in the Hattujärvi area will be carried out this coming summer by an independent, certified operator. The results will be published on Endomines’ website and presented at the autumn community evenings.
Groundwater and wells under active monitoring
Potential impacts on groundwater also raised questions. Participants were informed that all wells in the Southern Gold Line area are under monitoring, and that 60 groundwater monitoring wells have already been installed. This makes it possible to establish baseline groundwater conditions and detect any changes at an early stage—even before mining operations begin.
“In the new production facility, we are using leading designers, water experts and the most advanced water management solutions available. Our starting point is clear: any water discharged outside the mining area must be as clean as natural water,” emphasized Sampo Hirvonen, Chief Development Officer.
Concerns about noise, dust and road conditions
Residents living near Pampalo expressed concerns particularly about noise and dust. Endomines stated that it offers noise measurements as a first step to those who experience noise disturbance. Dust control measures include dust binding and covering of crushers.
During the summer, the environmental impacts of dust will be studied in more detail. As part of environmental monitoring, samples will be collected from, for example, pine needles, ants, earthworms, as well as garden and wild berries. For this reason, Endomines’ sustainability team has been asking local residents for permission to collect samples—including digging for earthworms and picking currants.
The poor condition of Hatuntie road sparked extensive and lively discussion at the Pampalo event. Endomines noted that it has repeatedly raised the issue with decision-makers and the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency, but so far, the road has not been included in repair plans. The company will continue its advocacy efforts.
Local impact in practice
For 2025, Endomines paid approximately EUR 200,000 in mining tax to the municipality of Ilomantsi. Local sourcing is also a priority: last year the company purchased services from local businesses worth approximately EUR 2.2 million, working with a total of 55 local suppliers.
Currently, 91 people are employed at Pampalo, around one fifth of whom are permanent residents of Ilomantsi. In addition, ten Endomines employees have relocated to the area in recent years. The company also supports local sports clubs, road safety initiatives, and community facilities such as the Lehtovaara village hall and the Hattuvaara beach.
Dialogue continues
After the presentations, participants were able to explore zoning maps, water management principles and development plans for the Southern Gold Line in smaller groups. They also had the chance to examine gold concentrate samples.
The events were especially appreciated for providing a low-threshold opportunity to ask questions, engage in discussion and raise concerns face-to-face.
We will continue open dialogue with local residents and other stakeholders going forward. The next community evenings will be held in the autumn, but we will meet again already on 14 August at Pampalo’s Open Doors Day. Welcome!
