Kemira completes soil remediation project at Pukinjärvi in Vaasa

Kemira has completed its soil remediation project along the shores of Pukinjärvi in Vaasa. The only structure remaining on the old factory site is a protected office building. Approximately 90,000 tons of contaminated soil, equivalent to about 4,000 truckloads, have been excavated and removed, according to Kemira’s project manager, Teemu Mattila.

The remediation process began in 2022 and involved a mass exchange method, where contaminated soil was excavated and replaced with clean material. Mattila noted that finishing works are currently underway. The future use of the area remains uncertain, although one option includes selling the site. There has been interest from both developers and industry, but no contracts have been signed yet.

The situation regarding the cleanup of Pukinjärvi itself is still unresolved, with the lake being regarded as one of the most polluted water bodies in Finland. Its bottom contains white phosphorus and potential remnants of old explosives from when the military operated in the area. There are disagreements between the city of Vaasa and Kemira regarding the cleanup approach, particularly concerning a proposal to fill part of the bay with dredging material, which the city opposes. Kemira’s latest application is currently under review by an administrative court.

Esa Hirvijärvi, the head of the city’s environmental department, expressed moderate satisfaction with Kemira’s work at the factory site, stating that the city has been involved throughout the process. Both Kemira and the city remain optimistic about reaching an agreement on the Pukinjärvi situation, although it is unlikely that the final decision will satisfy both parties completely.