Finland’s first silver mine to start production next year
Finland’s first silver mine in Sotkamo in eastern Finland will start production next year.
The board of Swedish-based Sotkamo Silver AB said on Wednesday that the company has now ensured sufficient financing and will start the construction of the mine.
Production is estimated to begin in the first part of 2019.
Arttu Ohtonen, chief executive of Sotkamo Silver’s Finnish subsidiary, said the mine would employ about 100 people and produce approximately 45 tonnes of the metal per year.
According to Ohtonen, a half of the enriched silver will be sold for industrial purposes and the other half will be used for jewelry, cutlery and investment silver.
“We may soon see Finnish silver in Finnish jewelry,” he said.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Arctic nickel, not oil, could soon power the world’s cars, Blog by Mia Bennett, Cryopolitics
China: It’s official: China releases its first Arctic Policy, Blog by Mia Bennett, Crypolitics
Finland: Ex-Talvivaara mine CEO to appeal environmental crimes conviction, Yle News
Norway: Can Barents region become a superhub on China’s Arctic Silk Road?, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: Northernmost mine to be powered by nuclear reactors, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Swedish mining company in court over toxic waste exported to Chile in the 1980s, Radio Sweden
United States: America’s most toxic site is in the Alaskan Arctic, Blog by Mia Bennett
