Grafintec Oy is a Finnish graphite technology and mineral exploration company, mainly engaged in the research and development of graphite and anode materials. The company explores various battery mineral deposits in Finland and investigates the suitability of natural graphite as a raw material for the battery industry.
The company’s strategy is to develop a graphite resource and production base that provides security of supply and contributes to Finland’s and Europe’s efforts to achieve self-sufficient battery production, focusing on natural graphite production, the circular economy and a recycling strategy to produce graphite anodes for the emerging lithium-ion battery industry. The company is wholly owned since 2016 by the British-Swedish mineral exploration and development company Beowulf Mining plc. Website: www.grafintec.fi
Grafintec Oy has mineral exploration projects in Heinävesi, Tuusniemi, Pälkäne and Kruunupyy. The company is exploring the development potential of the Aitolampi graphite deposit and the graphite potential of the Rääpysjärvi project nearby. The company is also investigating the nickel-cobalt-gold, graphite and lithium potential of the Emas project in Kruunupyy. Grafintec Oy’s exploration methods include bedrock and boulder mapping, soil sampling, geophysical airborne and ground surface measurements, bedrock drilling and, if necessary and possible, small-scale exploration trenching to expose the bedrock surface. Depending on the terrain conditions in the study area, geophysical surveys, bedrock mapping and sampling, soil sampling and diamond drilling are often the most likely methods of exploration. At areas of high interest with reasonably thin soil cover, shallow exploration trenches and sampling is often carried out. More detailed geological mapping will be carried out on the most potential targets and, where appropriate, more sample material will be collected for ore mineral characterisation, enrichment testing and application testing. Through mineral exploration, Grafintec Oy aims to locate and define a potential ore deposit, and determine its geological and geochemical characteristics.
| Yes | No | |
|---|---|---|
| Location in a nature reserve* | ||
| Voluntary environmental management system ** | ||
| Environmental risk assessment carried out |
| Kyllä | ei | |
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| Staff initiative system | ||
| Performance appraisals concerning the entire personnel | ||
| Staff training plan | ||
| Equality plan | ||
| Employee representation in company administration | ||
| Occupational health and safety management system* | ||
| Occupational safety card for everyone working in the area |
Rural and tourism businesses and landowners are taken into account in the company’s stakeholder work, as is the case for other groups. Where possible, the company will give priority to subcontracting to local service providers. Our operations as a company must be sustainable in terms of the environment, the local community, the availability of raw materials and the profitability of the business. The potential mine, if realised, would be significant for Grafintec Oy and the local economy and would create jobs both directly and indirectly.
The company’s operations have not had a significant impact on recreational use in the surrounding area. There is short-term noise disturbance from drilling, and there is also motor vehicle traffic in the areas during the survey period. Possible damages caused from drilling will be restored or compensated as agreed with the landowners.
The company’s activities have not had a significant impact on the landscape value of the area.
Grafintec Oy is committed to respecting all stakeholders, cooperating with the local community and ensuring sustainability. In a project planned near a valuable water body and a tourist area, the key is an open dialogue where all parties discuss both benefits and concerns based on facts. Through newsletters and public meetings, we update our news and inform the residents of our areas about our activities. The aim is to ensure that the debate about geology, exploration and the company’s activities is based on scientific facts. The elected representatives and officials of the municipalities in the areas where we operate are the key people who keep the residents, landowners and entrepreneurs in the areas informed. As the work progresses, we will keep stakeholders and local elected officials informed by providing up-to-date material. We actively work to maintain open and good relations with all groups and to discuss issues constructively.
Grafintec Oy participates in research projects developing the national battery cluster (BATCircle 2.0 and BATTrace) and collaborates with companies, GTK, VTT and universities to collect and analyse international data on the exploration of large geological areas and the demand for battery minerals.
The vision of the BATCIRCLE 2.0 project is to develop and optimise high-tech production processes (spheronisation and thermal purification) to exploit natural and alternative graphite resources. These include the conversion of recycled graphite into high quality anode material for lithium-ion batteries. The project will test and optimise new, environmentally friendly and cost-effective processes for the conversion of graphite materials into high quality lithium-ion battery anode materials without the use of hazardous chemicals (e.g. hydrofluoric acid). Process optimisation aims to produce equal and high quality materials that meet the requirements of electric vehicle applications.
The BATTRACE research project aims to investigate the traceability of battery metals (origin of metals) and the sustainable production of battery metals. The EU’s Green Development Programme aims to produce batteries that comply with safe and sustainable principles to meet growing demand. The project involves several industry partners who, in addition to research partners and Business Finland, act as project financiers. The industry partners in this EUR 5.8 million project include Finnish Minerals Group, Finnish Battery Chemicals, Keliber Technology, Outotec, Valmet Automation, Latitude 66 Cobalt, Grafintec, Mawson and FinnCobalt.
