The future of sustainable mining

Our aim is to lead the way for the future of sustainable mining.

We are open-minded in introducing new technologies and continuously developing existing ones. It is important for us to do things right, and better than well – in this way we create a responsible operating model for the entire Finnish mining industry.

The Sakatti Mine, which will be planned in accordance with the FutureSmart Mining operating model, will be an underground carbon-neutral mine that utilises the best available technology. Advanced mining methods enable zero waste and a high recycling rate for water. This will enable the sustainable extraction of critical minerals.

Check out the presentation video of the Sakatti Mining Project.

Sakatti forest compensation nature reserve

Our sustainable mining plan focuses on preventing, avoiding, and mitigating any damage we cause to the environment. Our parent company, Anglo American, is committed to over-compensating its ecological impacts in all its new projects. Compensating for environmental impacts even before the project is implemented is also in line with the objectives of the Finnish Nature Conservation Act.

In May 2022, the company acquired nearly 3,000 hectares of jointly owned forest from Inari as a voluntary ecological compensation for the mining project. The forest area to be protected was acquired from the Municipality of Inari, where a sufficiently large forest area meeting the criteria was available.

Forest protection compensates for the direct terrestrial ecological damages caused mainly outside the Viiankiaapa nature reserve, where the infrastructure required by the mine – buildings, access road, and power lines – would be built. In addition, Anglo American plans to protect and restore drained mires in Sodankylä.

In September 2024, the Lapland Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre) issued a decision on the establishment of the Sakatti Forest Compensation Nature Reserve. The decision describes the area to be protected as being significant for biodiversity values. Protecting the area supports nature conservation, improves the connectivity of the area, and expands the core area of the wilderness.

According to the Intact Forest Landscape (IFL) definition, the site to be protected is a forest in an untouched state. The protected area has trees of different ages and plenty of deadwood.

Viiankiaapa nature reserve

Our project is located beneath the corner of the Viiankiaapa nature reserve, as metals can only be mined where they exist.

Beneath Viiankiaapa lies one of the richest polymetallic deposits in Europe. From the perspective of nature, it is important how the extraction is carried out; if done correctly, the impacts on the nature reserve can be minimised.

Environmental responsibility is at the heart of our entire project

We believe that the Sakatti Mine can be implemented in a sustainable manner and with respect for the environment. We are constantly working on environmental responsibility and strive to minimise the impact on the environment. Over the years, we have carried out numerous nature and species surveys, adhering to drilling standards, and investing in innovations that protect nature and biodiversity.

Expertise

Finland has strong expertise and professional skills both in the mining sector and the authorities to carry out mining operations in a sustainable manner. The demand for metals will increase in the future, as minerals are important raw materials in electric cars, wind turbines, smartphones, and many more applications.

The mining industry enables the energy transition by producing metals for the societies of the future – metals that are needed to combat climate change.

The goal of the Sakatti Mine is to produce domestic raw materials for the needs of global high-technology industries.

Environment

• Responsibility in Anglo American
• Sakatti's Environmental Impact Assessment

Responsibility in Anglo American

Responsibility guides our operations in everything we do. Our responsibility work is more than just adhering to laws and regulations - it is a principle that guides all our business operations. We focus on three important themes in developing our environmental responsibility: biodiversity, combating climate change and water use. We aim for a carbon neutral mine of the future and increased biodiversity. We are prepared for the mine's closure and planned for the area's reclamation before even initiating the actual mining. We have partnered with a leading environmental NGO, Fauna & Flora International, to help us develop our competence in biodiversity management. More information on our responsibility principles is available here.

Sakatti's Environmental Impact Assessment

Sakatti's environmental impact assessment procedure (EIA) is currently ongoing. The EIA procedure investigates and assesses the project's direct and indirect impacts on the environment. The procedure aims to promote the assessment and consideration of environmental impacts in project planning and decision-making as well as to increase citizens' engagement and access to information. During the procedure, authorities and stakeholders whose conditions and interests are affected by the project are consulted.

The EIA procedure has two phases. In the first phase, the project developer prepares an environmental impact assessment program (EIA program), which is a plan for the necessary studies and the execution of the impact assessment and the assessment procedure. Sakatti's EIA program was completed in the spring 2018. The EIA program and the contact authority's report are available here. The second EIA phase started in Spring 2018 and was finalized by the end of November 2020. Further information available here.