Metso Selected as the Supplier and Engineering of Process Technology for GTK Mintec’s New Pilot Plant
The Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) and Metso have signed an agreement for the engineering and delivery of process technology for GTK Mintec’s new pilot plant. The pilot plant will significantly expand the research and service offering of globally unique GTK Mintec. There are only three pilot plants of a comparable scale worldwide.
Improving the recovery of valuable materials, reducing extractive waste and minimising environmental impacts are among the key challenges facing the mining and minerals sector.
“GTK Mintec is one of our strategic spearheads. The minerals processing research services play an important role in advancing the circular economy. The renewal work is progressing well, and this agreement represents a significant step forward in strengthening the services offered to industry,” says Saku Vuori, Director General of GTK.
“Metso and GTK have collaborated for decades in the research, testing and development of minerals processing solutions. The new GTK Mintec pilot plant in Outokumpu builds on this long-standing partnership and provides an excellent environment for developing and testing minerals processing and circular economy solutions that support the industry’s goals of improving resource and energy efficiency,” says Piia Karhu, President, Minerals at Metso.
The new pilot plant is scheduled to begin operations by the end of 2028. The current pilot plant will remain operational until the new facility is commissioned.
Process lines with different capacities enable testing also with smaller material volumes
Metso will engineer and deliver the process technology for the new pilot plant.
“The pilot plant will include two processing lines with different capacities. Both lines can be used for continuous testing of the entire beneficiation process or individual unit operations, such as crushing, grinding, flotation, gravity separation, magnetic separation, as well as process water recycling and treatment,” says Jouko Nieminen, Director, GTK Mintec Development.
The larger process line will have the same capacity as the current pilot plant, ranging from 0.2 to 1.5 tonnes per hour and, in special cases, up to 3 tonnes per hour.
The smaller process line will have a capacity of 15 to 60 kilograms per hour. This will enable continuous testing of beneficiation processes, for example during the early stages of mining projects using drill core samples.
In addition, some of the equipment from the current pilot plant will be refurbished and transferred to the new facility.
Modern facilities enable piloting of water management and side-stream treatment solutions
The new pilot plant will provide a modern environment for pilot-scale testing and optimisation of process technologies. In addition to conventional beneficiation technologies, the pilot plant will enable the testing and development of energy-efficient solutions that reduce water and chemical consumption. It will also support the piloting of water management solutions and the treatment of various side streams.
Occupational safety has been a guiding principle from the outset of the facility’s design. Processes, plant layout, sampling procedures, and maintenance and operating activities have all been designed to be safe and ergonomic.
The pilot plant will also feature an advanced digitalisation and automation environment, where process data will be collected automatically from equipment and measurement points. This will accelerate the analysis of test results, improve data quality and enable more comprehensive and faster reporting for customers.
Further information
Metso news release on the agreement
GTK Mintec new pilot plant project webpage
Saku Vuori, Director General
Geological Survey of Finland (GTK)
Tel. +358 29 503 0216
saku.vuori@gtk.fi
Jouko Nieminen, Director, GTK Mintec Development
Geological Survey of Finland (GTK)
Tel. +358 29 503 2180
jouko.nieminen@gtk.fi
