Metal ore is now recovered more than ever in the history of Finnish mining. The extraction of metal ore has increased by 13 per cent and the recovery of industrial spirits by 7 per cent since 2016. These data are shown in an industry report on the mining industry, published on 21 November.
Investments in mining and ore mining continued to increase in 2017. Total investments in the extraction of metal ore amounted to about 480 million euros in 2017, which is a clear increase from the year before. The mining investment and development programs for the next few years are worth about one billion euros.
Battery minerals arouse much interest at the moment. The interest is primarily seen in the form of an increase in the number of cobalt and lithium digestion applications.
- The energy change and climate targets increase the need for raw materials to a considerable extent. We have excellent opportunities to take advantage of this and increase the value added of ore in Finland. The state is prepared to promote the development of a Finnish value chain in battery manufacturing and to make efforts on it, as far as research and product development, corporate operating conditions as investments are concerned, says Minister for Industry, Mika Lintilä.
Even the circular economy, which exceeds the boundaries of the industry's value chains, brings new opportunities for the mining and metal processing industry. Utilization of by-products from the process industry is being investigated in several mines.
At the mine in Kittila, a pilot attempt was made during the autumn using geopolymers in cover structures. The geopolymers should replace cement. Ferrovan Oy is preparing a factory to handle vanadium-containing steel slag from SSAB's plants in Brahestad and Luleå and produce ferrovanadium. Ferrovanadium is used as an alloying substance in the manufacture of particularly strong grades of steel.
Expecting the global market outlook for metals and other mineral products is challenging in terms of both demand and supply.
"The world political situation is tense in many respects, and many individual factors can affect, in turn, a significant impact on, among other things, world market prices and the availability of metals. The positive economic development and demand for metals and minerals have a direct impact on the industry's improved position, says the report's compiler, industry manager Heino Vasara of the Lapland business, traffic and environmental centre.
New mines are planned
In the mining and extraction industry, activity was again lively in 2017. Most ores were extracted at Terrafame mine in Sotkamo. In total, the breakdown (ore and grey mountain) was greatest at the mine Boliden Kevitsa, and the largest industrial miner mine was Siilinjärvi mining.
A total of nine metal ore mines and 27 industrial minerals were operating in Finland in 2017.
Many ore mining and mining projects are underway. Of these, Sotkamo Silver Ltd's projects have come the furthest. It is planned that four previously closed mines will be reopened, and five other mining projects will be ongoing.
The industry report on the mining industry 2018 was published on 21 November 2018 at the FinnMateria 2018 fair in Jyväskylä. The report addresses the current situation and prospects for the industry.
