Minerals policy helps to secure national supply of raw materials
In minerals policy, the aim of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment is to secure Finland’s raw material supply and ensure sustainable use of national resources, international competitiveness, responsible use of natural resources and vitality of Finnish regions.
Minerals policy helps to promote research on and production of raw materials for the needs of the society. It also helps to ensure correct management of resources, taking into account the opportunities generated by the circular economy.
Finland has a number of strengths as a supplier of mineral raw materials:
- good geological potential (bedrock and soil)
- transparent and predictable legislation
- nationwide infrastructure networks
- highly educated and competent workforce
Mineral sector operators in Finland
The minerals sector is comprised of extractive, mining and metal processing industries. Mining, aggregate and natural stone industries are the three sectors of the extractive industry. The mining industry comprises exploration, extraction of metal ores and industrial minerals and the production of concentrates.
Finland also has a broad-based metal processing and mineral processing sector. The minerals cluster also includes the manufacturers of machinery, equipment and technology for the sector, services, research and training. If the parties engaged in sectoral organisations and the public authorities responsible for permits and supervisory tasks are included, we can talk about a minerals ecosystem.
Many of the mining and metal processing companies are international players. In the aggregate and natural stone industries, there are also a large number of local-level SMEs. The Finnish machinery, equipment and technology know-how is globally recognised.
In addition to large companies with global operations, Finland also has an increasing number of SMEs offering special technologies. New business is generated for the recycling of raw materials and the use of side streams.
Finnish research and development activities are becoming more international and there is also demand for our expertise in international research cooperation. Team Finland supports enterprises in their efforts to grow and expand their exports and other international operations.
Vision of the Mineral Strategy: Finland will become a model country of sustainable and responsible exploitation of minerals internationally
The national Mineral Strategy was completed in December 2024. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment was responsible for preparing the strategy and the steering group supported the work.
The aim of the strategy process was to form a common view of the situation, policy objectives and broad lines of the Finnish mineral cluster. The instability of the world has exposed our economic and political dependence on raw materials. Access to critical raw materials is also a bottleneck in the transition from fossil to clean energy systems. At the same time, it is important to strengthen the sustainability of the extractive sector and the circular economy.
The key objective of the strategy is to promote the growth of the Finnish mineral cluster in order to strengthen the clean transition and strategic autonomy of Europe and to increase the value added of mining raw materials.
Vision of the National Mineral Strategy
Finland is a global pioneer, partner and developer in the sustainable and responsible exploitation of minerals. The mineral cluster will increase its value added resource efficiently, securing the availability of strategically important minerals.
The minerals strategy defines six main objectives:
- Growth and value added from the minerals sector
- Responsibly in all areas of sustainability
- Skills and RDI as a source of success
- Finland – an influential player and partner in the minerals sector
- Efficient implementation of the Critical Raw Materials Act
- Strong raw material supply for industry.
In order to meet these objectives, the strategy proposes measures such as promoting streamlining of permit procedures, ensuring adequate mapping of the mineral potential
of bedrock, planning incentives for the introduction of the best technologies and circular economy solutions and mapping the competence needs of the minerals sector,
promote exports and integration of Finnish operators in international projects, and increase up-to-date situation awareness of companies’ need for mineral raw materials and improve preparedness for supply chain disruptions.
Active cooperation with the public administration, the private sector and the organisational field is sought in the implementation of the strategy.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has established a monitoring group to coordinate and support the implementation of the mineral strategy. Stakeholders and ministries responsible for the strategy’s measures have been invited to join the group. The group’s term is from 14 April 2025 to 30 September 2027.
Sari Tasa, Senior Specialist
Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, Innovation and Enterprise Financing Department, Industrial policy Telephone:0295048242 Email Address: