Karelian Diamonds Abandoning Exploration in Northern Finland

(IDEX Online News) – Just weeks after announcing the discovery of a potential new diamond source in the Kuhmo region of Finland, Irish-listed Karelian Diamond Resources has announced that it is abandoning its plans for diamond exploration in the Utsjoki area.

According to the Irish Independent, the move is the result of protests arguing that the development of the Utsjoki area would have a negative effect on the homeland of the Sami people, which also contains a protected nature reserve.

The paper said that a local group called the Anti-Mining Coalition of Deatnu Valley sent a letter to several senior Finnish officials, including the Finnish Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, asking for a halt to Karelian Diamond’s activities.

"We had a claim reservation in the area [but] we are now in the process of withdrawing it,” the Independent quoted Karelian Diamond chairman Professor Richard Conroy as saying.

A spokesman for the Anti-Mining Coalition quoted by the paper said, "Of course we are very happy that they have withdrawn their claims, now the message that we want to get out is that no other company should look to do that again [explore for resources in the area]."

The firm will now focus on another potential development in the south of the country.