Geological Survey of Finland Assigned Tasks Under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act
The national implementation of the EU Critical Raw Materials Act is progressing. The Finnish Government proposes assigning tasks to the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) related to the establishment and maintenance of a database on closed extractive waste facilities, as well as the preparation and updating of a national exploration programme.
The EU Critical Raw Materials Act, which entered into force in 2024, aims to strengthen raw material value chains in Europe, diversify imports, reduce strategic dependencies, and improve security of supply.
The Government proposes amending the Act on the Geological Survey of Finland to include responsibilities related to the preparation and updating of a national exploration programme for critical raw materials, as well as the establishment and maintenance of a database on closed extractive waste facilities. The Act is intended to enter into force on 1 November 2026.
“The amendment provides a strong incentive for us to continue our long-term and strategic work to ensure the sustainable availability of mineral raw materials,” says Director General Saku Vuori.
The national exploration programme was submitted to the European Commission in autumn 2025, and the first programme period is currently underway. In addition, GTK published information on extractive waste facilities, their characteristics and locations in a public map service in summer 2026. GTK maintains, supplements and further develops data related to extractive waste.
Further information
Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment news (in Finnish)
Information on the EU Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA)
National exploration programme
Database on extractive waste facilities
Saku Vuori, Director General
Geological Survey of Finland (GTK)
Tel. +358 29 503 0216
saku.vuori@gtk.fi
