There are two verified ore deposits within Terrafame’s mining concession: Kuusilampi, where the company’s current open-pit mine is located, and Kolmisoppi, whose utilisation is expected to begin in the late 2020s.
Terrafame submitted its environmental permit application for the utilisation of Kolmisoppi and the expansion of the mining concession to the Regional State Administrative Agency for Northern Finland.
The project’s environmental impact was assessed previously in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedure, as a conclusion of which the competent authority, i.e. the Kainuu Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre), issued its justified statement. In the justified statement, the competent authority addressed the conclusions and sufficiency of the assessment. The competent authority’s statement has now been taken into account in the environmental permit application submitted to the Regional State Administrative Agency for Northern Finland.
During the EIA stage, the project plan underwent several modifications to minimise the impact on waterbodies. As a result of the modifications, it was possible to reduce the size of the mining concession expansion.
“The utilisation of Kolmisoppi and the expansion of the mining concession enable the production of the battery chemicals required for electric cars far into the future. This means that this project is very important for Terrafame, the Kainuu region, and Finland as a whole. We are satisfied that the project proceeds to the permit stage,” says Veli-Matti Hilla, Chief Sustainability Officer at Terrafame.
Europe’s largest nickel ore reserves are located in Terrafame’s mining concession in Sotkamo. Zinc, cobalt and copper are also recovered from the ore. Since 2021, nickel and cobalt have been processed into battery chemicals at the company’s battery chemicals plant for use in electric car batteries.
For further information, please contact:
Veli-Matti Hilla, Chief Sustainability Officer, Terrafame Ltd, tel. +358 20 7130 800 (switchboard), veli-matti.hilla(at)terrafame.fi
You can read the EIA material on Terrafame’s website at www.terrafame.com > Environment > Environmental effects and monitoring.
Terrafame reduces the carbon footprint of transport by delivering responsibly produced battery chemicals to the global battery industry. One of the world’s largest production lines for chemicals used in electric car batteries is located on Terrafame’s industrial site. The plant is capable of producing nickel sulphate for around 1 million electric cars per year. The carbon footprint of the nickel sulphate produced by Terrafame is among the smallest in the industry.
Terrafame’s integrated, unique and energy-efficient production process from the mine to battery chemicals is located on a single industrial site. It provides customers with a transparent, traceable and truly European battery chemical supply chain.
Terrafame Ltd was founded in 2015. Its net sales in 2021 were EUR 378 million. Around 1,500 people work on its industrial site, half of whom are employees of partner companies.