Description of the company
Mondo Minerals B.V. Branch Finland operates in Finland, mining talc ore in Kainuu and North Karelia and processing and further refining it into various talc products. The company’s production facilities are located in Sotkamo and Vuonos (Outokumpu). There are four active mines: the Punasuo and Uutela open pits in Sotkamo and the Horsmanaho-Pehmytkivi and Karnukka open pits in Polvijärvi.
The company’s talc products are widely used in various industries, including the paper and pulp industry and the plastics, paint and ceramics industries.
Mondo Minerals is part of the IMI Fabi Group, an international, family-owned mining and industrial minerals company specialising in talc production and processing. The Group operates globally and is headquartered in Italy. Ownership of the company was transferred from Elementis plc to IMI Fabi on 27 May 2025. Following the ownership change, the name Elementis Minerals B.V. Branch Finland was changed back to Mondo Minerals B.V. Branch Finland on 2 September 2025.
Results according to the TSM Finland Standard
| C | B | A | AA | AAA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Outreach | |||||
| Biodiversity Management | |||||
| Tailings management | |||||
| Water management | |||||
| Energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions | |||||
| Mine closure | |||||
| Occupational health and safety | |||||
| Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) * | NA |
* The results are self-assessments and will be verified in 2026
Crisis management
| Crisis management preparedness | Internal review | Training and exercises | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crisis Management Planning – Corporate | |||
| Crisis Management Planning – Site |
Results as of: 2023
Latest externally verification: 2023
Social Responsibility Report
Company in figures
- Production volume: a total of 232 000 tonnes of talc concentrate (>95%) produced. 105 000 tonnes in Sotkamo and 125 000 tonnes in Vuonos.
- Total mining: 3,2 million tonnes (24% ore and 76% waste rock)
- Reported one reserves: Not reported
- Reported mineral reserves: Not reported
- Year of commencement: Suomen Talkki was established in 1967, and talc production began in Sotkamo in 1969. Production in Vuonos began in 1977. The Punasuo mine was opened in 2010, Uutela in 2006, Horsmanaho-Pehmytkivi in 1981 and 1999, and Karnukka in 2015.
- Expected remaining life of the mine: Based on known ore reserves, the production facilities have an estimated operating life of approximately 30 years.
- Mining area: Sotkamo: Punasuo 63, Lahnaslampi 530 ha, Uutela 225 ha, Vuonos 420 ha, Horsmanaho-Pehytkivi 147 ha, Karnukka 129 ha
- Number of own employees (31.12.): 129 (Sotkamo 85 ja Vuonos 44)
- The main localities of the employees: Kajaani (32 %), Sotkamo (24 %), Outokumpu (17 %), Joensuu (8 %)
- Number of permanent contractors (31.12.): 71
Information about prospecting
Exploration is carried out in Polvijärvi and Sotkamo. The target mineral is talc. Exploration methods include drilling, field surveys, hand sampling and magnetic measurements.
- Number and area of reservation areas: 0 areas and 0 ha
- Number and area of exploration permit areas: 5 areas and 556,99 ha
- Number and area of exploration permit application: 0 areas and 0 ha
- Exploration permits under appeal: 0 areas
- Exploration drilling: 2,6 km
Environment
The company's environmental practices:
| 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 |
- ** ISO 14001:2015
- *** Two deviations related to minor permit limit exceedances in discharged water.
- Environmental permit granted: kyllä
- Year of permit: Sotkamo 2008 (2023), Uutela 2006 (2022), Vuonos 2007 (2014, 2020), Horsmanaho-Pehmytkivi 2007, Karnukka 2015. The environmental permits are supplemented by several permit decisions that were granted later.
- Link of permit: https://www.elementis.com/fileadmin/elementis/finland/PDF/Lahnaslampi/Permit_Decisions/22._Lupap%C3%A4%C3%A4t%C3%B6s_AVI_28.6.2023.pdf
- Guarantee in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act: 21 200 000 €
- Financial guarantee in accordance with the mining act in the mining permit area: 734 000 €
- Financial guarantee in accordance with the mining act in mineral exploration permit area: 20 000 €
Key Figures
- Amount of mining waste: Kainuu: 1 182 000 tonnes of waste rock, 324 000 tonnes of tailings & North Karelia: 1 270 000 tonnes of waste rock, 190 000 tonnes of tailings.
- Utilixation of extractive waste: Kainuu: 37% waste rock, 29% tailings & North Karelia: 9.8% waste rock, 15% tailings
- Fuel Consumption: Kainuu: 19.8 GWh (fuel consumption of mobile equipment at the mine site and ore transport from satellite mines) & North Karelia: 9.9 GWh (fuel consumption of mobile equipment at the mine site and ore transport from satellite mines)
- Other energy consumption: Kainuu: 70.7 GWh electricity (100% nuclear power), 4.76 GWh heat (fuels for district heating and the drying process) & North Karelia: 41.6 GWh electricity (100% nuclear power), 5.1 GWh heat (fuels for district heating and the drying process)
- CO2 emissions from the mine: Kainuu: 6 100 tonnes CO2 and 0,013 tonnes CO2/tonne of ore; 0% of emissions indirect and related to purchased electricity generation & North Karelia: 3 800 tonnes CO2 and 0,014 tonnes CO2/tonne of ore; 0% of emissions indirect and related to purchased electricity generation.
- Water consumption: Kainuu: 0 Mm3 (0% share in the process) & North Karelia: 0,266 Mm3 (5.8% share in the process)
- Discharge of water outside the mining area: Kainuu: 1,66 Mm3 & North Karelia: 1,41 Mm3
- Number of dams in the mining area: Kainuu: 3 at the Sotkamo tailings area (Class 2), 4 at the Uutela mine (Class 2) & North Karelia: 4 at the Vuonos tailings area (Class 2)
- Endangered species are present in the operational area: kylla
- Use of environmentally hazardous chemicals: Kainuu: 23,5 tonnes in the production process & North Karelia: 35 tonnes in the production process.
- Biodiversity actions: Nesting opportunities for sand martins have been created in an old tailings pile by cutting steep faces into the sand.
Personnel and security
The company's personnel practices:
| 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 |
- * Certified ISO 45001:2018
Key Figures
- Average training days: 1,3
- Sickness absences (excluding contractors): 3,7
- Accident frequency: 4,7 and contractors 10,2
- Shift systems in use: Day work 37.5 hours/week; day work 40 hours/week; TAM15, TAM37, TAM36, TAM35.
- Share of women in the labour force: 16 % ( 34 % of employees and 1,4 % of workers)
Impact on the use and livelihoods of nearby areas
Impact on local livelihoods:
- Mining or exploration activities are not located within a reindeer herding area.
- Mining operations provide both direct and indirect employment for local residents, either as contractors or service providers
Impact on nearby recreational use:
- According to the company’s own assessment, mining operations have not had negative impacts on recreational use of nearby areas.
Impact on landscape value:
- Landscape values have been taken into account in the planning and implementation of the company’s mining waste areas.
- The amount of mining waste is managed through measures including planning and the development of beneficial use.
- Mining waste areas will be landscaped in accordance with closure plans.
Interaction with stakeholders
Stakeholder cooperation:
- The company supports various local sports clubs and associations.
- Cooperation with educational institutions (vocational schools, universities of applied sciences and universities), including by offering thesis and internship opportunities within its operations.
- The company maintains active dialogue with local stakeholders by holding regular monitoring group meetings with local fishing associations, neighboring property owners and other representatives of nearby communities. The meetings focus particularly on environmental impact assessment (EIA), permitting and development projects, with the aim of ensuring the open flow of information, cooperation and consideration of local perspectives.
Research and cooperation projects:
- Mondo Minerals promotes continuous improvement in its operations through broad cooperation with public organisations, research institutes and private operators. In 2025, the company supported the development of new measurement methods and technologies by providing practical test environments and water and material samples of varying quality for projects. The cooperation projects also sought solutions for improving production efficiency, material circulation, energy efficiency and water management.
- The company participates in cooperation and steering groups organised by government agencies and research centres.