MINERVA project brings circular economy and clean water solutions to Arctic mining
The MINERVA project pilots and demonstrates solutions that enhance the recovery of critical raw materials and reduce the environmental footprint of mining operations.
The EU LIFE Programme funded MINERVA project (MINeral Efficiency, Recovery and Valorisation in the Arctic) will start developing a novel circular-economy-based mining and mineral processing model aimed at significantly reducing environmental impacts while improving the recovery of critical raw materials. The project will be implemented at the Sokli mining area in Eastern Lapland under Arctic conditions.
At the core of the project is a multi-commodity mining concept in which, in addition to phosphate, minerals such as rare earth elements, niobium, iron and vermiculite are recovered from the ore. The objective is to maximise the utilisation of extracted ore and minimise the amount of waste generated.
“A circular economy and the clean transition require raising the level of mining practices. In the Sokli mining project, the pilot is carried out under continuous operation, which allows us to gain valuable insight into the effects of seasonal variation already during the project. The results can be utilised in permitting, investment planning and scaling up the solutions,” says Acting CEO Pasi Heino of Sokli Oy.
Circular economy in mine water and waste management
The MINERVA project also develops water use and water management. Nearly closed-loop process water circulation, chemical-free fine filtration and reduced waste areas can significantly improve water reuse and reduce the need for fresh water. The goal is to clearly decrease both the volume of water discharged into the environment and the concentrations of harmful substances.
One of the approaches being developed and piloted in the project is processing mining waste into low-carbon green cement. Estimates suggest that such a solution could achieve up to 80–85% lower carbon dioxide emissions compared to conventional cement. Remaining metals can also be recovered in the same process, further improving material efficiency and supporting low-carbon construction.
In the project, wet tailings storage will be replaced by dry stacking and stabilised dry stacking. This can reduce the surface area of waste facilities by up to 60% and minimise risks related to dam failures and the seepage of harmful substances. Extractive waste is not only stored more safely but is also intended to be utilised in the future as raw material for the construction industry.
Cooperation benefits other mines as well
In addition to Sokli Oy, the project consortium includes Sokli’s owner Finnish Minerals Group Oy as well as Betolar Oyj, Sofi Filtration Oy and RINA Consulting S.p.A. The aim of the cooperation is to demonstrate, through the project, that mining can be developed in line with EU climate objectives, the safeguarding of clean water, and the principles of circular economy.
“Our key starting point is that environmental risks are identified and learned to be managed before actual mining begins – not during or after it. The pilot enables verification of water management, waste streams and structures at a smaller scale and under controlled conditions. In this way, the overall risk to a sensitive environment can be significantly reduced compared to direct industrial-scale implementation,” Heino says.
The knowledge and operating models generated by the project can also be widely utilised elsewhere in Europe. The aim is to create a replicable model for responsible mining that secures the availability of critical raw materials and promotes material efficiency, protects waters and the environment, and supports the EU’s clean transition.
The total budget of the MINERVA project is nearly EUR 8.8 million, of which approximately EUR 5.3 million is funded by the EU LIFE Programme. Sokli’s share of the project is EUR 4.0 million, including EUR 2.4 million in LIFE funding. The project is expected to last three and a half years.
Further information
Pasi Heino, Acting CEO, Sokli Oy
firstname.lastname(at)mineralsgroup.fi, tel. +358 50 553 5032
Photos
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Sokli Oy is advancing the Sokli mining project in Savukoski, Eastern Lapland. The Sokli deposit is globally significant and, in addition to phosphate and iron, contains rare earth elements and niobium. Utilising these resources would strengthen Finland’s and Europe’s self-sufficiency in raw materials. Sokli Oy is part of Finnish Minerals Group, whose core mission is to responsibly maximise the value of Finland’s minerals. www.sokli.fi