FINLAND

Finnish mining boom prompts regulation backlash on polluters

Finland’s mining companies stand to face tougher rules as environmental damage prompts regulators to check the Nordic nation’s mining boom.

Metso to supply additional mining services to Northland Resources in Sweden

Metso has signed a major service contract with Northland Resources AB, consisting of a six-year service, maintenance and inspection program for the Kaunisvaara iron ore processing plant, located in northern Sweden. The contract complements previous equipment and mill lining services order, announced in 2011. The total value of the order is EUR 73 million, including the previously signed contract worth EUR 19 million.

Finland grants licence for uranium extraction at Talvivaara

Cameco (TSX:CCO) (NYSE:CCJ) announced today that the Finnish government has granted a licence for the extraction of uranium as a by-product from the Sotkamo nickel mine operated by Talvivaara Mining Company Plc. (LSE: TALV) in eastern Finland.

Everyone wants a piece of Northland

The company, advancing iron ore projects in Sweden and Finland, decided to increase the size of the equity offering announced earlier in February due to "high demand" . Together with a fully subscribed bond offering the company is now raising close to $700 million.

Agnico-Eagle offer for Grayd expires; Agnico-Eagle acquires 94.77% of Grayd and plans compulsory acquisition of remaining shares

TORONTO, Nov. 18, 2011 /CNW/ – Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited ("Agnico-Eagle") (NYSE & TSX: AEM) and Grayd Resource Corporation ("Grayd") (TSX-V: GYD & OTCQX: GYDRF) announced today that 91,228,900 common shares (the "Shares") of Grayd, representing approximately 94.77% of the outstanding Shares on a fully-diluted basis, have been validly deposited pursuant to the offer (the "Offer") made by Agnico-Eagle to acquire all of the issued and outstanding Shares. All conditions of the Offer have been satisfied and the Offer has now expired and will not be extended. Agnico-Eagle has taken up all deposited Shares and will pay for such deposited Shares not later thanNovember 23, 2011.

Nortec (NVT) Signs Agreement for $20.5 Million Option of the LK Project, Finland

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwire – Aug. 30, 2011) - Further to the press release dated July 27, 2011, Nortec Minerals Corp. (TSX VENTURE:NVT)(PINK SHEETS:NMNZF)(FRANKFURT:WMQ) ("Nortec" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that it has signed an Option and Joint Venture Agreement ("OA") with Otterburn Ventures Inc. (CSNX:OTB) ("Otterburn"). The OA gives Otterburn the option to earn up to an 80% interest in Nortec's Läntinen Koillismaa project, a 100 % owned palladium-platinum–gold–copper-nickel property ("LK Project"), located in north central Finland.

Northland Resources may lease Narvik iron ore terminal

The agreement between the Port of Narvik and Northland Resources SA today was confirmed by the board of Narvik Havn KF. The agreement grants Northland the permit to lease the Narvik Terminal, Fagernes, south of the city centre.

Finland's Talvivaara warns on production and nickel price

Finland's Talvivaara missed Q2 earnings expectations and produced 3,951 tonnes of nickel in the quarter adding that its nickel output for the year will be towards the lower end of its 22,000 to 28,000 tons guidance.

The miner warned that the short term outlook for nickel – which has declined to its lowest level in 2011 at around USD 21,000 per tonne – is uncertain and volatility across the base metals complex is likely to remain high. On the other hand, the global nickel market has remained in a deficit throughout the first half of the year with LME nickel stocks currently around their lowest levels since early 2009.

INTERVIEW: Outokumpu To Focus On Growth Outside Europe

Efforts to turn loss-making Finnish stainless steel maker Outokumpu Oyj (OUT1V.HE) around have been insufficient to date and the company will now focus on growth outside of Europe in order to improve profitability, Chief Executive Mika Seitovirtaof said

Metso and Fortum's joint development work on oxyfuel combustion technology makes headway

In a joint R&D project, Metso and Fortum have developed oxyfuel combustion technology that aims to reduce the CO2 emissions of power plants. In 2010, Metso's 4-MW test plant in Tampere, Finland, was modified for oxyfuel combustion, resulting in the biggest known oxyfuel combustion process based on circulating fluidized bed technology in the world. C

Metso supplies automation and process electrification to Outokumpu's new ferrochrome plant in Tornio, Finland

Metso will supply an extensive electrification and automation delivery to Outokumpu's new ferrochrome plant in Tornio, Finland. The equipment will be installed in several phases during 2011 and 2012. The test runs in the new plants will start in late 2012.

Agnico Eagle's Kittila Mine to use Gemcom InSite

Gemcom Software International, one of the largest global suppliers of mining software solutions, recently announced Agnico Eagle’s Kittila mine in northern Finland has chosen Gemcom InSite as its mine production management solution.  Read more

Finland to pass new mining law on Tuesday; miners critical

Miners are worried that the new mining law, which is expected to be passed by Finland's parliament on Tuesday, could increase bureaucracy and compensation to landowners which may make future ops more difficult.

Cameco taps nickel-zinc mine in Finland for more uranium

Cameco announced on Wednesday that it had reached an agreement with the Talvivaara Mining Company Plc. to help process uranium at the Sotkamo nickel-zinc mine in eastern Finland.

Talvivaara's Primary Crushing Capacity Boosted by Crusher Cavity Optimization

Talvivaara mine, located in Northern Finland, is today the biggest sulfide nickel ore mine in Europe. In close cooperation with Metso, and with crusher cavity optimization, Talvivaara recently boosted its primary crushing capacity annually by up to 3.5 million tons. …

Outotec Delivers Technology for the Expansion of Outokumpu's Ferrochrome Plant in Finland

Outotec will deliver sintering and ferrochrome smelting technology for the expansion of Outokumpu's ferrochrome plant in Tornio, Finland. The new sintering plant and smelter will double Outokumpu's ferrochrome production capacity. The contract value is approximately EUR 45 million. Read more

The Arbitral Tribunal's decision regarding the redemption price for the minority shares of Larox Corporation

OUTOTEC OYJ PRESS RELEASE  AUGUST 13, 2010 AT 4.00 PM The Arbitral Tribunal's decision regarding the redemption price for the minority shares of Larox Corporation The Arbitral Tribunal appointed by the Redemption Committee of the Central Chamber of Commerce of …

Metso to supply mining equipment for Nordic Mines in Finland

Metso will supply mining and minerals processing equipment and services for the new gold ore processing plant of Nordic Mines Oy in Finland. The equipment delivery will be completed during the first half of 2011, and the start of commissioning …

Talvivaara celebrates tenth Hitachi truck

Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV (HCME) has recently supplied its tenth EH3500ACII haul truck machine to Talvivaara nickel mine in Finland. The trucks have been supplied by Hitachi's Finnish dealer, Rotator. Read more

Outokumpu Copper Project to Proceed

Emerging copper producer, Universal Resources Limited (ASX: URL) recently approved the development of the Outokumpu Copper Project (Project) in eastern Finland, approximately 400km northeast of the capital Helsinki. Read more

Normet expands to provide more and better underground service vehicles

Normet  opened its modernised production facilities in Iisalmi, Finland earlier this month. EUR1 million investment in modernized production facilities has already increased Normet’s assembly capacity by 30% and another 25% of growth is expected in the near future. Later this …

Outotec to reduce over 100 employees in Finland

Outotec to reduce over 100 employees in Finland Outotec announced on February 9, 2010 its new operational model and measures to improve internal efficiency, targeting at EUR 25 million annualized savings in operational fixed costs compared to the cost level …

Its all happening in the Nordic Region, including Finland’s largest mining project

Latest issue of International Mining Project News available (December 4):This week, International Mining attended the 7th Fennoscandian Exploration and Mining conference in Rovaniemi, Finland. Delegate attendance at FEM 2009, one of the largest exploration and mining conferences in Europe, exceeded all expectations. It is the seventh in a series of conferences held every second year, [...]

Metso, Fortum, UPM, and VTT are jointly developing a clean energy alternative with domestic bio-oil

Metso, UPM, and VTT have developed a biomass-based bio-oil production concept to provide an alternative to fossil fuels. Since June of this year, the Metso R&D Center in Tampere, Finland, has been producing high-quality bio-oil from sawdust and forest residues. …

Metso to deliver new environmental waste gasification technology to Lahti Energia Oy in Finland

Metso will supply a waste gasification plant to Lahti Energia Oy in Lahti, Finland. Metso’s supply includes waste gasification process, gas boiler and flue gas cleaning system with auxiliary systems and automation system for the whole power plant. The gasification plant represents new type of technology that enables Lahti Energia to convert recycled waste into energy at high efficiency and reduce use of fossil fuels in the city of Lahti significantly. There will be two gasification lines in the new power plant, and together they will produce 50 MW electricity and 90 MW district heat. The commercial operation of the plant is scheduled for 2012. The order will be included in the Energy and Environmental Technology’s Q4 orders received. The value of the Metso order is not disclosed but Lahti Energia’s total investment is EUR 157 million.