EU Strategic Project

The Sakatti Project was designated a Strategic Project under the European Commission's Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) in March 2025. The Sakatti polymetallic deposit provides metals essential for the needs of future societies. Of the metals extracted from the deposit, copper and nickel in particular are classified as critical raw materials for both Finland and the EU.

Once it enters production in the early 2030s, the Sakatti mine will double Finland's copper production and increase nickel production by 25 percent.

Strengthening the EU's Self-Sufficiency

Currently, the EU produces only about four percent of the minerals it needs, importing the remainder from other parts of the world. The EU has decided to strengthen its mineral self-sufficiency and aims to raise the share of domestically sourced minerals to ten percent.

The Sakatti Project plays a significant role in building capacity that is important for both Finland and Europe. The objective of the Sakatti mine is to ensure the availability of responsibly produced metals and minerals for reducing carbon dioxide emissions in our energy and transport systems, for advanced future technologies, and for the rapidly growing needs of modern lifestyles.

As an EU Member State, Finland offers a stable and secure operating environment for the the production and processing of metals and minerals required for a low-carbon society. Finland has also invested in the entire critical raw materials value chain, including mineral exploration, mining, further processing, and metals recycling.

What Are the Benefits of Strategic Project Status?

Strategic projects are classified as being in the public interest, as they strengthen the security of supply of strategic raw materials within the EU. For this reason, the EU seeks to ensure efficient permitting processes and more predictable development timelines for these projects. Holding strategic project status does not affect the requirements of permitting processes under national legislation.