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SompioMining
3
dollisuudet Suomessa
Kaikkiaan sovittiin 35 toimenpiteestä kes-
tävän kaivannaisteollisuuden edistämi-
seksi. Ohjelmassa esitetään toimia mm.
läpinäkyvyyden, hallinnon, koulutuksen
ja infrastruktuurin parantamiseksi, par-
haiden käytäntöjen ja kokemusten vaihta-
mista sekä teknisten ja johtamisprosessi-
en kehittämistä. Toimenpiteiden toteutus
on käynnistynyt ja toteutusta johtaa oh-
jausryhmä, jossa on edustajat kaikista
intressiryhmistä. Ohjelman valmistelun ai-
kana hyvin käynnistynyttä ja tuloksellista
keskustelua teollisuuden, viranomaisten
ja eri intressiryhmien välillä tullaan jatka-
maan myös ohjelman toteutuksessa.
Kaivosteollisuus on suhdanneherkkä
ala. Metallien laskeneet hinnat ovat vai-
kuttaneet kaivostoimintaan myös Suo-
messa. Kuitenkin metallien ja mineraali-
en kysynnän oletetaan kasvavan pitkällä
aikavälillä johtuen väestön kasvusta, elin-
tason noususta ja kaupungistumisesta.
Suomi on sitoutunut kehittämään kestä-
vää kaivosteollisuutta.
Kaivostoiminta on tervetullutta Suo-
meen, mutta ei hinnalla millä hyvänsä.
Kaivosteollisuuden on kunnioitettava ym-
päristöllisesti, sosiaalisesti ja taloudelli-
sesti kestävän kehityksen vaatimuksia.
Vain taloudellisesti kannattava ja sosiaa-
lisesti hyväksytty liiketoiminta on pitkällä
aikavälillä kestävää.
JAN VAPAAVUORI
Elinkeinominister
i
ial in Finland
lopment of Finland’s extractive industries.
The mining industry has expanded in recent
years, particularly in Northern and Eastern
Finland. Finnish technology companies
are globally renowned for their advanced
technology, sophisticated ore processing
procedures and high quality products for ex-
ploration, underground mining, mineral pro-
cessing, process and environmental monito-
ring and cleantech solutions. Development
of the extractive industries cluster is impor-
tant to the whole of Finland’s economy. As
early as 2008, the government performed a
primary evaluation on how best to support
the mining industry. As a result, the decision
was taken to finance transport infrastructu-
re and infrastructure investments in mines,
as well as supporting education and trai-
ning, and funding mine investments through
loans and guarantees.
Finland’s mineral strategy was published
in 2010. The related strategic objectives in-
volve promoting domestic growth and pros-
perity, providing solutions to global mineral
chain challenges and mitigating the environ-
mental impact of mining. Expertise was also
emphasised as playing a key role in develo-
ping the mining sector and minerals cluster.
In 2011, the Green Mining Programme was
launched by the Finnish Funding Agency for
Technology and Innovation. Academic insti-
tutions, research organisations, companies
and public sector actors have joined forces
to run development projects under this five-
year programme, based on a total budget of
60 million euros. Research and development
topics include sustainable technologies and
processes, as well as better management
processes for the entire lifecycle of mines,
from exploration to their closure.
The Government has also expressed
its support for the mining industry through
measures included in the Government pro-
gramme for 2011: in the state budget for
2012, 30 million euros were allocated to
financing of the mining industry and the re-
lated technology development
Discussion of environmental and social
impacts has increased in Finland as elsew-
here. Criticism and anti-mining sentiment
have been fuelled by environmental prob-
lems and conflicts of interest with nature re-
servations and tourism. In 2012, the govern-
ment responded by initiating the formulation
of an action plan for the development of
environmentally, socially and economically
sustainable extractive industries. The action
plan to make Finland a leader in the sustai-
nable extractive industries was launched in
late April 2013.
The action plan includes joint measures
to be taken by the industry, public sector and
all other actors involved. A total of 35 me-
asures for the enhancement of sustainable
development were agreed. These include
greater transparency, enhanced administra-
tion, education and infrastructure, sharing
of best practices and experiences, and the
development of technical and management
processes. The implementation of these is
in progress and is being led by a steering
committee representing all of the interest
groups involved. The fruitful discussion that
began so well during the preparation of the
action plan between the industry, the pub-
lic sector and various interest groups will be
continued during the plan’s implementation.
The mining industry is sensitive to econo-
mic fluctuations. Falling metal prices have
affected the industry in Finland, too, even if
demand for metals and minerals is expected
to grow in the long term, due to population
growth, improvements in living standards
and urbanisation.
In Finland, we are committed to the de-
velopment of a sustainable mining industry.
Mining is warmly welcome in Finland, but
not at any cost. The mining industry must
respect the environmental, social and eco-
nomic demands set by sustainable develop-
ment.
Only a profitable business that finds
broad social acceptance can be regarded as
sustainable in the long run.
JAN VAPAAVUORI
By Minister of Economic Affairs