The Baltic Sea is NOT a landfill of the battery industry

The Baltic Sea is NOT a landfill of the battery industry

Finland's first battery material factory on the shores of the Gulf of Finland in Hamina was granted an environmental permit on February 12, 2024, by the Southern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency (Case ESAVI/8206/2023). The permit allows for the disposal of over 99.5% of production waste untreated into the Baltic Sea. This decision sets a tragic precedent for the Baltic Sea!

The biggest sulfate release in Finland

The permit conditions of CNGR Finland Oy allow for the discharge of sulfate into the Baltic Sea at a concentration of 62,000 mg/l and 290,000 kg per day! The concentration is highly toxic to all Baltic Sea fish and bottom-dwelling organisms. The sulfate discharge, with a volume of approximately 100,000,000 kg/year, would make the factory the largest point source of sulfate pollution in Finland if realized. In addition to sulfate, enormous amounts of nickel and nitrogen are also released into the sea, exacerbating the situation even further.

Hundreds of entries were submitted - technology for the waste treatment exists

A total of 489 entries were submitted to the Regional State Administrative Agency regarding the environmental permit application. PMP, together with the Southeast Kymenlaakso Finnish Association for Nature Conservation, prepared a very comprehensive statement demonstrating the harmfulness, the existence of better technology, and the possibility of a genuine circular economy. Yet, predominantly Chinese-owned CNGR Finland Oy obtained its permit practically without any obligations for waste treatment. Once again, the Baltic Sea has been turned into a dumping ground for the green transition.

In Sweden and the United States, similar factories (Northvolt and Ascend Elements) have chosen a completely different approach. They will crystallize and repurpose the sodium sulfate as fertilizer for the fields.

Swedish fertilizer company Cinis Fertilizer is a prime example that fully utilizes the battery industry waste - they have their first factory up and running by Q1 of 2024. 

PMP actively seeks to promote public discussion and raise awareness among decision-makers about this blatant issue. The Baltic Sea cannot be used as a landfill for the green transition. Genuine circular economy solutions are feasible and must be demanded from all battery industry players on the shores of the Baltic Sea!

We demand that

• It should not be allowed to release sulfate in The Baltic Sea at a concentration of 62g/l and 290 tonnes/per day
• It should not be allowed to release nickel in The Baltic Sea at a concentration of 200 µg/l
• The use of the best available technology like crystallization or similar should be demanded 
• We demand that the environmental permit of CNGR Finland should be revoked concerning part of permit regulations 23.

Sign the petition by the 17th of March 

The environmental permit of CNGR Finland is completely irresponsible and incomprehensible in the context of Finland in 2024. PMP will appeal to the Vaasa Administrative Court together with the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation. This petition will be used as an attachment to the appeal. A press release has also been sent to the media regarding this matter.

The state of The Baltic Sea should be by all possible means improved, not deteriorated.

Remember to confirm the petition in your email!

Further information:

Puhtaan meren puolesta ry (Outi Lankia ja Jooel Salo) 
https://puhtaanmerenpuolesta.fi/
SLL Kaakkois-Kymen yhdistys ry (Raija Seppälä)  
https://www.sll.fi/kaakkois-kymi/

Puhtaan Meren Puolesta ry ja SLL Kaakkois-Kymen yhdistys ry    Contact the author of the petition