Description of the company
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 open pit-mine and include ore and waste rock extraction, storage, crushing, transportation, and ore beneficiation.
Results according to the TSM Finland Standard
| C | B | A | AA | AAA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Outreach | |||||
| Biodiversity Management | |||||
| Tailings management | |||||
| Water management | |||||
| Climate change management | |||||
| Mine closure | |||||
| Occupational health and safety | |||||
| Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) * | NA |
* The results are self-assessments and will be verified in 2027
Crisis management
| Crisis management preparedness | Internal review | Training and exercises | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crisis Management Planning – Corporate | |||
| Crisis Management Planning – Site |
Social Responsibility Report
Company in figures
- Production volume: A total of 425,000 tonnes of ore was processed. Production resulted in 1,948 tonnes of silver- and gold-bearing lead concentrate and 2,885 tonnes of silver-bearing zinc concentrate. Additionally, 8,672 tonnes of pyrite concentrate were delivered to the customer. The total metal production contained in the concentrates amounted to approximately: – 803,077 ounces of silver – 1,829 ounces of gold – 602 tonnes of lead – 1,472 tonnes of zinc
- Total mining: 794,344 t (ore 55 %, Zero-waste rock 45 %)
- Reported one reserves: Measured mineral resources: 1.463 Mt Indicated mineral resources: 0.135 Mt Total measured and indicated resources: 1.598 Mt (Average grades: Ag 85 g/t, Au 0.22 g/t, Zn 5.2 %, Pb 2.2 %)
- Reported mineral reserves: Measured mineral resources: 7.335 Mt Indicated mineral resources: 1.802 Mt Inferred mineral resources: 3.527 Mt Total mineral resources: 12.664 Mt (Average grades: Ag 51 g/t, Au 0.26 g/t, Zn 4.3 %, Pb 1.8 %)
- Year of commencement: The Taivaljärvi deposit of Sotkamo Silver was discovered in 1980, and mining operations commenced in March 2019.
- Expected remaining life of the mine: 10 years
- Mining area: 413.5 ha
- Number of own employees (31.12.): 48
- The main localities of the employees: Sotkamo 36 % Nurmes 14 % Kajaani 10 % Kuhmo 8 % Pyhäjärvi 6 %
- Number of permanent contractors (31.12.): 3 permanent contractors, employing approximately 112 people in total.
Information about prospecting
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. The target metals and minerals include gold (Au), silver (Ag), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn).
- Number and area of reservation areas: 0 pcs
- Number and area of exploration permit areas: 7 pcs and 2,120 ha
- Number and area of exploration permit application: 6 pcs and 1,423 ha
- Exploration permits under appeal: 0 pcs
- Exploration drilling: 0 km
Environment
| 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, not certified
- *** Two instances of environmental permit exceedances in water treatment.
- Environmental permit granted: kyllä
- Year of permit: 2020
- Link of permit: https://www.silver.fi/images/pdf/Environment/p20155.pdf
- Guarantee in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act: 5,917,600
- Financial guarantee in accordance with the mining act in the mining permit area: 50,000
- Financial guarantee in accordance with the mining act in mineral exploration permit area: 11,500
Key Figures
- Amount of mining waste: Total amount of mining waste: 764,684 tonnes Waste rock: 46 % Concentrate tailings: 53 %
- Utilixation of extractive waste: Zero-waste rock 73 %, Tailings 14 %
- Fuel Consumption: 9.11 GWh
- Other energy consumption: Electricity 23,91 GWh, Underground mine heating (LPG) 1,93 GWh, Heating of concentrator silos 0,10 GWh
- Energy consumption target: The target for reducing energy consumption per tonne of ore processed (GWh/t) was achieved.
- CO2 emissions from the mine: Scope 1, 2 (market-based) & 3 emissions: 22,531 tonnes Scope 1, 2 (location-based) & 3 emissions: 12,601 tonnes Corresponding emissions intensity: 0.05 and 0.03 tCO2 per tonne of ore processed, respectively.
- Water consumption: 1.1 Mm3, recycled 99 %
- Discharge of water outside the mining area: 0.4 Mm3
- Number of dams in the mining area: 4
- Endangered species are present in the operational area: ei
- Use of environmentally hazardous chemicals: Fuels: 779 tonnes, Processing chemicals: 163 tonnes
- Biodiversity actions: Fishery compensation, Tipasjoki river restoration project.
Personnel and security
| 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 |
- * ISO 45001, not certified
Key Figures
- Average training days: 3.3 days / employee
- Sickness absences (excluding contractors): 9.8 days / employee
- Accident frequency: At the end of 2025, Sotkamo Silver’s employee accident frequency rate (LTI) was 0, and the contractors’ rate was 20.8.
- Shift systems in use: Continuous five-shift system, 12 hours per shift Continuous two-shift system, 10 hours per shift
- Share of women in the labour force: 12 %
Impact on the use and livelihoods of nearby areas
Impact on local livelihoods:
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.
Impact on nearby recreational use:
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.
Impact on landscape value:
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.
Interaction with stakeholders
Stakeholder cooperation:
- The company has a regularly convening monitoring group that includes representatives of stakeholders.
- Social impacts are monitored through communication and joint events.
- Channels for stakeholder feedback are in place, and a procedure for handling feedback has been established.
Research and cooperation projects:
-
Kainuu Mining Strategy 2019 – 2025
-
Tipasjoki Fish Stock Restoration Project
- KaiVesi- Project