Foundation Stone Laid for New GTK Mintec Pilot Plant Supporting Critical Raw Materials Innovation
The foundation stone of the new pilot plant at GTK Mintec, part of the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK), was laid in Outokumpu on 22 October 2026. The new pilot plant is part of the development of GTK Mintec’s unique mineral sector service ecosystem. It will help accelerate Finland’s research and development investments by improving the recovery of valuable materials, reducing extractive waste, and minimising environmental impacts. The existing pilot plant will continue operating until the new facility is commissioned at the end of 2028.
GTK Mintec is a mineral processing industry pilot plant and research environment located in Outokumpu, Finland.
“The new GTK Mintec pilot plant is a concrete response to one of Europe’s key needs: research results and new technologies must be brought into industrial use more rapidly. The pilot plant provides an environment where new solutions can be developed and tested on an industrial scale before actual investments are made. At the same time, we are strengthening Finland’s competitiveness, accelerating new investments, and supporting Europe’s self-sufficiency in critical raw materials,” says Saku Vuori, Director General of GTK.
The new industrial-scale pilot plant and the expansion of research and testing capacity will enable more comprehensive development of mineral processing flowsheets, support sustainable mining practices, and improve resource efficiency. The new facility will utilise advanced technologies in crushing, beneficiation, water treatment, and water recycling. Metso has been selected as the equipment supplier. The modern premises will also enable safer handling of research materials.
Research capacity will increase significantly, as the new pilot plant will feature two processing lines. The larger process line will have a capacity equivalent to the current one facility, while the smaller line has been specifically designed for continuous pilot campaigns on a smaller scale.
The construction project is being managed by Senate Properties, which is responsible for state-owned office premises in Finland. Particular attention is being paid to environmental responsibility in both design and construction. The target is to achieve a three-star environmental classification.
“Low-carbon construction is being promoted, among other measures, by reusing approximately 400 square metres of hollow-core concrete slabs and granite slabs that were carefully dismantled from GTK’s former office building in Kuopio,” says Outi Hiltunen, Construction Manager at Senate Properties.
The building’s energy solutions will make use of renewable and energy-efficient technologies. Energy sources will include ground-source heating and solar power, complemented by heat pump systems. These solutions will reduce the need for purchased energy and lower operational emissions throughout the building’s lifecycle.
In 2024, GTK Mintec received new laboratory and office facilities. In 2025, the GTK SMARTTEST circular economy field-testing platform was commissioned to investigate the behaviour and utilisation potential of side streams and extractive waste.
Further information
Saku Vuori, Director General
Geological Survey of Finland (GTK)
saku.vuori@gtk.fi
Tel. +358 29 503 0216
Jouko Nieminen, Director, GTK Mintec Development
Geological Survey of Finland (GTK)
jouko.nieminen@gtk.fi
Tel. +358 29 503 2180
