Terrafame has submitted permit application covering its entire operations and the Kolmisoppi project – the company anticipates swift processing
Terrafame has submitted a permit application covering its entire operations and the Kolmisoppi project ahead of schedule. The Kolmisoppi project holds strategic project status under the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), enabling an accelerated permitting process.
On Thursday, 30 April, Terrafame has submitted an application under the Environmental Protection Act and the Water Act to the Finnish Supervisory Agency. The application covers the company’s entire operations as well as the Kolmisoppi project. In December 2025, the Regional State Administrative Agency for Northern Finland stated that the Kolmisoppi project must be permitted as part of Terrafame’s so-called main permit.
In February 2026, the Supreme Administrative Court of Finland issued a legally binding decision concerning Terrafame’s entire operations, i.e. the main permit, requiring the company to apply for a new permit no later than the end of 2027. However, Terrafame submitted the application well in advance, as the progress of the permitting process is critically important for the continuity of the company’s operations and its long-term development.
The progress of the Kolmisoppi project, the company’s second and as yet unexploited ore deposit, is particularly critical. Kolmisoppi will enable uninterrupted ore mining across the turn of the decade, and the aim is to commence mining operations at Kolmisoppi as early as 2028. In March 2025, the Kolmisoppi project was granted project status under the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA). This status ensures an accelerated permitting process for the overall permit application.
During the appeals process concerning the current main permit, the Vaasa Administrative Court and subsequently the Supreme Administrative Court imposed restrictions on, among other things, the construction and use of the new secondary leaching area and the waste rock area KL1. Bringing the remaining blocks of the new secondary leaching area and the waste rock area into production use according to the planned schedule is important. Terrafame has therefore revised the related plans and reapplied for permits to enable their commissioning.
“The permit package covering our entire operations and the Kolmisoppi project is critically important to the continuity of Terrafame’s operations. While the CRMA allows for a faster-than-usual permitting process, our situation requires an even more accelerated timetable in order to implement our strategy and safeguard the company’s long-term financial viability. We anticipate that the permitting process will take approximately one year,” says Antti Koulumies, CEO of Terrafame.
The permit application materials will be made available on the Finnish Supervisory Agency’s website once the authority has issued the public notice of the application.
For further information, please contact:
Veli-Matti Hilla, Chief Sustainability Officer, Terrafame Ltd, veli-matti.hilla(at)terrafame.fi, tel. +358 20 7130 800 (switchboard)
The Kolmisoppi project on Terrafame's website
Terrafame enhances low-carbon mobility by delivering responsibly produced battery chemicals to the global battery industry. One of the world’s largest production lines for chemicals used in electric vehicle batteries is located on Terrafame’s industrial site. The plant is capable of producing nickel sulphate for around 1 million EVs 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 2025 were EUR 556.1 million. Around 1,800 people work on its industrial site, approximately half of whom are employees of partner companies.
