Kemi Mine is owned by Outokumpu Chrome Oy, a subsidiary of the Outokumpu Group. It is located north of the city of Kemi in Elijärvi, Keminmaa. Kemi Mine is the only chromium mine within the European Union.
The mine is part of Outokumpu’s integrated ferrochrome and stainless steel production chain in the Kemi-Tornio region. The role of Kemi Mine in the long production chain, which produces stainless steel from chromite ore, is to manufacture chromite ore concentrates used as a raw material for ferrochrome production at the ferrochrome plant in Tornio. The chromium contained in the ferrochrome produced by the plant makes the steel stainless.
Kemi Mine was opened in 1968, just under ten years after the discovery of the ore. Until 2005, chrome was mined by open pit mining to a depth of approximately 200 meters, after which all ore has been extracted from an underground mine. The environmental impacts of the Kemi Mine’s operations are minimal due to the low solubility of the oxidic chromite ore, the gravity-based chemical-free concentration method, and the closed process water cycle, which covers the entire mining and concentration processes.
Outokumpu Group’s environmental target is to minimize the environmental impact of its operations and strive towards carbon neutrality. The Kemi Mine aims to become the world’s first carbon-neutral mine by the end of 2025. The three principal factors contributing to the carbon neutrality of Kemi Mine are the use of low-carbon electricity, the adoption of biofuels in transportation and machinery, and the replacement of natural gas and propane gas used for heating with electricity and biogas. Furthermore, the electrification rate of the mining machines will be increased, thereby reducing fuel consumption.
Outokumpu Chrome Oy has one ore prospecting permit area in Keminmaa, at Nuottijänkä, permit code ML2021:0010. Diamond core drilling was conducted in the area in 2022. The ore prospecting focused on chromium (Cr) in the eastern and western extensions of the Kemi Mine chromite ore. In addition, the drill holes were examined for potential platinum group elements (PGE).
| Yes | No | |
|---|---|---|
| Location in a nature reserve* | ||
| Environmental Management System ** | ||
| Environmental impact assessment required (in accordance with the EIA Act) * | ||
| Measurements for dust | ||
| Measurements for noise | ||
| Measurements for vibration | ||
| Environmental risk assessment carried out | ||
| Deviations from environmental permits *** | ||
| Closure plan for the mine | ||
| Plan for the controlled shutdown of the mine in unexpected situations |
| Yes | No | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| Own rescue unit |
Kemi Mine is located in the municipality of Keminmaa, within the Meri-Lappi region. Together with the Tornio plants, the Kemi Mine constitutes a significant employer in Lapland, both directly and indirectly. Other activities in the vicinity of Kemi Mine include agriculture and forestry, as well as soil and mineral operations. The Kemi Mine is located outside the reindeer herding area.
According to the company’s assessment, its operations have not had any significant impact on the recreational use of the surrounding area. In the vicinity of the mine, outdoor activities such as berry picking and hunting continue to take place.
The most dominant elements associated with the mine’s operations are its structures, including mine towers and gangue piles. The mine is situated in the middle of wetlands and forests, which limits its visual impacts on the surrounding landscape to occasional occurrences. Landscape impacts from mining operations are primarily observed in the remote landscape (more than 5 km from the mine site). The greatest impacts on this remote landscape are visible from the roof of the Kemi Town Hall in the southwest and from the Ajos shore. Minor impacts are also noticeable on the northwest shore of Keminmaa’s old church/museum, where the gangue piles form a thin silhouette above the forest line.
Landscape values have been considered in the mine’s operations and closure plan. The target of Kemi Mine is to take biodiversity into account in the landscape and closure plans, considering the region’s typical species. Across all mine operations, efforts are made to minimize the environmental impacts within the mine area and its immediate vicinity, for example, regarding dust emissions and water system impacts. Additionally, the mine aims to maintain and enhance positive impacts on bird populations and other aspects of the local ecosystem.
Stakeholder cooperation is a key part of the Kemi Mine’s responsible operations. Open dialogue ensures that all parties receive up-to-date information about the mine’s activities, can share their perspectives, and participate in the development of the mine’s operations. The objective of this cooperation is to build trust, prevent misunderstandings, and promote a sustainable future for the mine and its surrounding environment.
The main stakeholders of the Kemi Mine include employees, contractors, authorities, the municipality of Keminmaa, the city of Kemi, local media, nearby residents and landowners, educational institutions, service providers and material suppliers, as well as organizations and associations. Interaction is based on transparency, proactive information exchange, and a functional feedback channel. Questions, concerns, and improvement suggestions are collected through stakeholder meetings and via email (palaute.keminkaivos@outokumpu.com).
Dialogue and meetings
In 2024, stakeholder cooperation was carried out through both remote meetings and on-site events at the mine. Discussions covered topics such as the ongoing environmental permit process, management of extractive waste, the waste management plan and closure plan, safety and accident statistics, organizational changes, production status, and ongoing projects such as changes in mining methods and the carbon neutrality target. In addition, Outokumpu’s sustainability reporting practices and the importance of stakeholder feedback were presented.
Partners and Local Engagement
Interaction was further enriched by presentations from partners during meetings. Throughout the year, the mine hosted visits from educational institutions, partners, and other external stakeholders. The company also supported local education, youth work, sports, recreational and cultural activities, as well as leisure activities for employees’ families.
In 2024, research and development activities at the Kemi Mine focused on promoting carbon neutrality. Both bio-based fuels and low-carbon electricity were employed, and alternative heating solutions were explored to reduce emissions. Research was also conducted to lower the carbon footprint of backfilling and shotcrete. The Kemi Mine participated in several collaborative projects, such as the Vesitar project (industrial water treatment solutions) and the Action4Commons study (collective stakeholder collaboration in managing common goods). Additionally, the mine contributed to various webinars and workshops on topics such as the utilization of mining by-products and circular economy.
