Speaking on an Yle Radio morning show on Wednesday, Korhonen called for more funding to monitor the mine in Kainuu. On Tuesday officials said heavy metals in water samples near the mine had risen to a level poisonous to fish and other organisms, and could cause fish deaths in the area.
Local officials in Kainuu have ordered production at the mine to remain shut for now.
“We must take care that the process is under control and properly supervised, before the extraction of metals is started again in order to ensure risks are averted now and in the future,” Korhonen said.
He asserted that authorities were entitled to stop the mine from resuming its production, and that they should indeed do so. The Environment Committee Chair also suggested a penalty payment as a sanction.
“Environmental emissions are unacceptable and cannot be justified, no matter what the economic situation of the company is,” Korhonen noted, adding that Talvivaara was clearly responsible for compensating damage done.
The Left Alliance MP bemoaned the current trend of taxpayers having to foot the bill, as evident in the banking world.
There were many lessons that could be learned from the Talvivaara disaster, according to Korhonen, in the areas of corporate social responsibility and the enforcement and monitoring of permits.
