{"id":3546,"date":"2026-02-27T11:46:38","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T09:46:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.finncobalt.com\/?page_id=3546"},"modified":"2026-02-27T14:36:20","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T12:36:20","slug":"environment","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.finncobalt.com\/en\/environment-and-responsibility\/environment\/","title":{"rendered":"Environment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Environment<\/h2>\n<\/div>

We design and implement all phases of the mining project with respect for the environment<\/b> and by minimising harmful impacts<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

We use the best available technologies in our operations, monitor biodiversity, and ensure the protection of water bodies and soil. Our goal is that the area\u2019s ecosystem remains viable<\/b> even after the project has <\/span>ended.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

Groundwater and Surface Water<\/h3>\n

Historic mining activities have had a significant impact on the groundwater in the Outokumpu area. This impact originated at a time when modern knowledge and technologies<\/b> related to water protection were not <\/b><\/span>yet available<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Hautalampi mining permit area contains the old tailings areas Sumppi<\/b> and Keretti<\/b>, which were part of the closed Keretti mine.<\/span><\/p>\n

Seepage waters from the newer tailings area (Keretti) flow through a wetland treatment system completed in 2001 into the Lower Hautalampi, which functions as a settling pond. From there, the waters join the <\/span>bypass channel built in 1995 that carries flows from Suu-S\u00e4rki. The combined waters then flow via the <\/span>Ruutunjoki River into Lake Sysm\u00e4j\u00e4rvi.<\/span><\/p>\n

In connection with the Hautalampi mining project, the aim is to achieve positive impact<\/b> on the groundwater <\/b>and surface water<\/b> flowing from the area. These positive effects will be achieved by removing existing <\/span>loading factors in the area and by directing additional<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Old Sumppi tailings area<\/b><\/font><\/p>\n

The Sumppi area still contains significant quantities of valuable metals that were originally mined from the <\/span>Keretti mine. Studies have shown that metals leach from the tailings area into the groundwater.<\/span><\/p>\n

The planned reprocessing of these metal-bearing tailings would improve the quality of groundwater in the <\/span>area in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Map 1. Old Sumppi tailings area.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Monitoring commissioned by FinnCobalt Oy<\/b><\/p>\n

FinnCobalt conducts groundwater sampling four times a year<\/b> at 12 locations within the mining permit area. In addition, samples are taken from groundwater monitoring wells located in the area <\/span>between Hautalampi and Sysm\u00e4j\u00e4rvi. Surface water sampling is carried out at four locations within <\/span>the mining concession area, as well as from the Ruutunjoki River.<\/span><\/p>\n

Groundwater and surface water samples are analysed for parameters including pH<\/b>, electrical <\/b>conductivity<\/b>, and metal concentrations<\/b>. In addition, the flow rate of water in the Ruutunjoki River <\/span>is monitored. Sampling and reporting are conducted by Savo-Karjalan Ymp\u00e4rist\u00f6tutkimus Oy.<\/span><\/p>\n

The results of groundwater and surface water monitoring at Hautalampi are published in the form of an annual report. Explore the results here.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

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Map 2. Triangles indicate groundwater monitoring well sampling points and stars indicate surface water sampling <\/span>points. The mining concession area is outlined with a blue line, and the company-owned property is marked with a red dashed line.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Reutilization of tailings<\/h3>\n

FinnCobalt has carried out extensive soil sample campaign<\/b> in the old Keretti tailings area and Sumppi tailings area and has found that they still contain valuable raw materials for use in the <\/span>electrifying industry.<\/span><\/p>\n

We have initiated research collaborations<\/b> with various EU-funded programs (BatCircle<\/a>, Enicon<\/a>) to explore the potential for reusing old tailings. Although the technology is still under development, <\/span>we hope that nature, local communities, and groundwater will benefit from it in the near future.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

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Map 3. Keretti tailings area (blue) and Sumppi tailings area (yellow).<\/span> <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Mine backfilling<\/h3>\n

The use of tailings in hardening mine backfill is a well-known and widely used technique dating back to the 1950s. It has been scientifically proven<\/b> to be an effective method<\/b> for encapsulating <\/span>tailings and reducing environmental impact.<\/span><\/p>\n

FinnCobalt has initiated research aimed at finding the safest possible way to encapsulate tailings in a new mine through the use of backfilling.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

M\u00f6kkivaaran sivukivikasa<\/b><\/p>\n

During the operation of the Keretti mine, thousands of tonnes of waste rock were extracted, some <\/span>of which still remain on the slopes of M\u00f6kkivaara. According to studies conducted by FinnCobalt, this waste rock pile contains significant amounts of both copper and cobalt.<\/span><\/p>\n

We have conducted a sampling campaign to further investigate the potential reprocessing of <\/span>M\u00f6kkivaara\u2019s waste rock as well as its use in mine backfilling.<\/span><\/p>\n

Currently, elements are leaching from the waste rock and flow into Outolampi and from there into <\/span>the groundwater. By removing this load, we aim to achieve positive environmental impacts in the area.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Carbon Footprint<\/h3>\n

Nowadays, it is possible to conduct mining operations with a minimal carbon footprint<\/b>, for example, by replacing heavy diesel machinery with electric equipment powered by carbon-free <\/span>energy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Traditionally, hardening mine backfill uses cement, which has long been recognised worldwide as a significant source of CO\u2082 emissions. Today, however, methods exist that allow cement to be <\/span>produced carbon-free.<\/span><\/p>\n

FinnCobalt, together with Outokumpu Mining Hub<\/a><\/b> and VTT Technical Research Centre of <\/b>Finland<\/b><\/span>, has launched a collaborative <\/span>project investigating carbon capture in mine backfill<\/b>. <\/span>Exploring these possib<\/span>ilities supports our environmentally conscious values, and we look forward <\/span>to the results.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Nature Surveys<\/h3>\n

Assessing the current state of the environment<\/b> is an important part of planning a new mining project. Thanks to studies conducted by FinnCobalt, we now know more than ever<\/b> about the <\/span>natural environment surrounding the Hautalampi deposit and the area between Hautalampi and <\/span>Sysm\u00e4j\u00e4rvi.<\/span><\/p>\n

The nature around the Hautalampi deposit has been studied as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and more comprehensively in connection with the environmental permit <\/span>application. In addition, an updated Natura assessment for Sysm\u00e4j\u00e4rvi was conducted in 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n

These surveys have revealed that the Upper, Middle, and Lower Hautalampi ponds within the mining concession area are home to moor frogs<\/b>, and that a protected summer lady\u2019s-slipper orchid<\/b> <\/span>grows at the southern end of the golf course.<\/span><\/p>\n

Based on these surveys, we are able to optimize our operations to ensure that these valuable and rare species continue to thrive in the area.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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\"Eurobattery<\/a><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>

FinnCobalt on Eurobattery Mineralsin tyt\u00e4ryhti\u00f6. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":3065,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3546","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.finncobalt.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3546","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.finncobalt.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.finncobalt.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.finncobalt.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.finncobalt.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3546"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.finncobalt.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3546\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3579,"href":"https:\/\/www.finncobalt.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3546\/revisions\/3579"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.finncobalt.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3065"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.finncobalt.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3546"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}