Finland is expanding its mineral-processing research infrastructure through a new pilot-scale concentrator in Outokumpu, strengthening the country’s role in Europe’s efforts to develop more domestic capacity for processing critical raw materials. Metso has signed an agreement with the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) covering the engineering and delivery of process technology for the new facility at GTK Mintec.
The financial value of the contract was not disclosed. Metso booked the order in its Minerals segment in the third quarter of 2026.
Pilot Plant to Test Advanced Processing Technologies
The new facility is expected to support pilot-scale testing of beneficiation processes for primary ores, secondary materials and circular-economy feedstocks. A key focus will be technologies designed to reduce energy, water and chemical consumption during mineral processing.
Operations are targeted to begin by the end of 2028. The facility is being developed as Europe seeks to strengthen processing capabilities closer to domestic mineral resources and manufacturing centres.
Europe Seeks Greater Processing Independence
European policymakers and mining companies are increasingly focused on expanding domestic mineral processing and refining. Although Europe has significant mineral resources, the region remains dependent on imported processed materials used in batteries, renewable-energy equipment, defence and advanced manufacturing.
Finland has developed into one of the European Union’s more established mining and processing jurisdictions, with resources and industrial capabilities spanning nickel, cobalt, lithium, copper and gold. The country also hosts a significant mining-equipment and metallurgical industry, giving it an existing industrial base for developing new processing technologies.
Metso and GTK Strengthen Technology Development
Metso is one of the world’s major suppliers of mineral-processing equipment, with technologies covering crushing, grinding, flotation, filtration and hydrometallurgical processing. Meanwhile, GTK Mintec already provides laboratory and pilot-scale processing services for mining companies and technology developers.
Its facilities allow companies to investigate ore characteristics and test processing flowsheets before committing to full-scale commercial plants. The new Outokumpu facility is expected to expand that capability at a time when processing design is becoming increasingly important to the economics of mining projects.
Pilot Testing Can Reduce Project Risk
European mining developments are under growing pressure to recover more valuable minerals from increasingly complex ores while limiting water consumption, tailings generation, energy use and emissions. Pilot-scale testing can help reduce development risks by providing data on recovery rates, reagent consumption and equipment performance before companies invest in commercial-scale infrastructure.
That makes advanced testing facilities an increasingly important link between laboratory research and mine development. For Finland, the Outokumpu project adds another component to the country’s mineral value chain beyond exploration and extraction. For Europe, its broader significance will depend on whether facilities such as GTK Mintec can help move innovative processing technologies from laboratory and pilot testing into commercially viable projects. That capability could become increasingly important as the European Union seeks to reduce dependence on overseas processing and accelerate the development of domestic critical-mineral supply chains.
