Transport

Transportation of material and goods plays a major part in reducing emissions to air from Boliden’s operations. In 2016, the metal transport volumes were basically unchanged, while the volumes of concentrate incresed by 10-15%. When determining the areas on which to focus in order to reduce the environmental impact from transportation, Boliden uses statistics from the existing consumption of fuels, the tonnages transported, and the alternatives that are available when choosing routes and means of transport. Experts in planning and purchasing are constantly working to optimise our transportation, from both an environmental and an economic viewpoint.

Boliden utilises a comprehensive transportation system for transporting raw materials, products and by-products by ship, rail, or road, depending on the volume being transported and the distance involved. A large number of suppliers and subcontractors are part of Boliden’s transportation system and it has proven difficult to compile a uniform report based on information provided by the respective carriers.

Currently, Boliden can only report on the environmental impact on road transports the company controls, i.e. shipments within or in connection to its own operation, and the logistics to/from ports and terminals which serve as delivery and pick-up points for Boliden.

The use of fuel for internal transportation within Boliden’s operations was 40,000 (40,000) tonnes which has been accounted for in EN3 and EN15.

Tests with bio-fuels in lorries have been ongoing in connection with transports of ores and concentrates to/from the Boliden and Garpenberg mines. This has reduced the estimated CO₂ emissions by about 2,500 tonnes. Only transports chartered by Boliden have been accounted for.

As a producer and importer of metal concentrates, Boliden has taken measures to comply with the new IMO MARPOL Annex V criteria for substances harmful to the marine environment. In practice, this means that a tank lorry receives the contaminated wash water from the ship and transports it to Boliden’s internal landfills or water treatment plants.

A relatively small part of the environmental impact from transportation comes from business travel, but Boliden is increasing the use of video and web conferencing equipment and telephone conference calls to reduce its business travel. These measures have reduced the need for air travel.