Silver is the opportunity and necessity of tomorrow. Sotkamo Silver is a mining and exploration company that develops and utilizes mineral deposits in the Kainuu region of Finland. The company supports the global transition toward green technologies by responsibly producing the metals required for that transition, with consideration for local stakeholders. Sotkamo Silver also holds mining and exploration rights to mineral deposits in the vicinity of its silver mine in Kainuu.
Sotkamo Silver’s main project is the silver mine located in Sotkamo, Kainuu, south of Lake Pieni Tipasjärvi, approximately 40 kilometers southeast of the town center. The mine began production operations in 2019. In addition to silver, the mine produces gold, zinc, and lead. The ores are processed into concentrates, which are sold to smelters under delivery agreements. The concentrates produced are Silver-Gold-Lead, Zinc-Silver, and Pyrite-Silver concentrates.
The production operations take place in an underground mine and include ore and waste rock extraction, storage, crushing, transportation, and ore beneficiation.
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| Community Outreach | Biodiversity Management | Tailings management | Water management | Climate change management | Mine closure | Occupational health and safety |
| Crisis management preparedness | Internal review | Training and exercises | |
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| Crisis Management Planning – Corporate | |||
| Crisis Management Planning – Site |
In addition to the development projects at the silver mine, Sotkamo Silver is also pursuing future growth opportunities in line with its strategy. Project REX is a local mineral exploration program aimed at developing an attractive mineral resource portfolio and discovering new exploitable mineral deposits in the Kainuu region. Exploration activities have been conducted during 2024 in the municipalities of Sotkamo, Kuhmo, and Nurmes. The exploration has focused on bedrock mapping, rock sampling, and ionic leach soil sampling. The target metals and minerals include gold (Au), silver (Ag), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and kyanite.
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| 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 |
No mining or exploration activities take place within the reindeer herding area. Rural and tourism industry operators, as well as landowners, are considered in the company’s stakeholder cooperation.
According to the company’s own assessment, its operations have not impacted recreational use in the surrounding area, except for the operational mining site where access is restricted for purposes other than mining activities.
Landscape values have been taken into account in the company’s operations and environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedures. Efforts have been made to minimize visual impacts through the placement of the facility and structures.
Kainuu Mining Strategy 2019 – 2025
Planning tools and instruments to strengthen climate resilience in the Oulu River watershed (ARVOVESI 2 project)
Tipasjoki Fish Stock Restoration Project 2024
