Home ⟩ Services ⟩ GTK Mintec ⟩ New Pilot Plant Strengthens GTK Mintec’s Research and Service Capabilities in Mineral Processing and Circular Economy
New Pilot Plant Strengthens GTK Mintec’s Research and Service Capabilities in Mineral Processing and Circular Economy
Improving the recovery of valuable materials, reducing extractive waste, and minimizing environmental impacts are among the key challenges facing the minerals sector. We are addressing these challenges by expanding our research and testing capabilities.
A new industrial-scale mineral processing pilot plant is currently in development and will be built in Outokumpu, Finland. The current GTK Mintec pilot plant will remain fully operational until the new facility is commissioned by the end of 2028.
Advancing Continuous Process Development at Industrial Scale
The new industrial-scale pilot plant will enable more comprehensive development of continuous beneficiation processes, supporting responsible mining practices and enhancing resource efficiency.
The facility will feature two process lines equipped with modern technologies for crushing, grinding, beneficiation, and process water treatment and recycling. This will accelerate the testing and development of processing solutions for both primary ores and industrial minerals, while significantly expanding capabilities for secondary raw materials and circular economy applications.
Two Process Lines for Flexible Testing
The new pilot plant will include two process lines. The large-scale line is equivalent to the current capacity. The smaller line is designed for limited sample volumes, enabling continuous pilot testing already at the early stages of a mining project using drill core material.
Integrated Process Water Research
Process water management is integrated into the pilot plant design. Water treatment and recycling studies can be conducted simultaneously with beneficiation testing, enabling a holistic approach to process optimization.
Increased Efficiency and Customization
New technological solutions will enhance operational efficiency while enabling more versatile and tailored test programs. The flexibility allows seamless support across the entire project lifecycle.
Pilot plant runs also with smaller sample volumes
Both process lines will feature dedicated crushing circuits. The larger process line operates at a capacity comparable to the current facility and is designed for typical sample sizes ranging from 10 to 300 tonnes.
The smaller line is designed for continuous testing with limited sample volumes, supporting early-stage projects using drill core material, process development in existing operations, and testing of materials from new deposits. The capacity of the smaller line is designed for sample sizes of 1 to 10 tonnes.
In both process lines, not only the full process flowsheet but also individual unit operations can be tested, including crushing, grinding, flotation, gravity and magnetic separation, as well as water recycling and treatment.
Safety as a key design principle
One of the key design principles of the new pilot plant is a strong focus on equipment safety and occupational health and safety. Ventilation, dust control, crushing circuits, processing halls, and sample handling facilities have been designed with careful consideration of the properties of the materials being tested.
The new pilot plant is the next step in the systematic development of GTK Mintec
The new pilot plant strengthens GTK Mintec’s position as a globally unique research and development infrastructure for the minerals and circular economy sectors and continues its long-term, systematic development. For example, new laboratory and office facilities were completed in 2024. In 2025, the GTK SMARTTEST circular economy field testing platform was launched for studying the behavior and utilisation of side streams and extractive waste.
The development work has been funded by the Regional Council of North Karelia through ERDF, JTF, REACT-EU and AKKE funding instruments, as well as by GTK’s budget funding, national RDI funding, and investment funding from Senate Properties.
The new pilot plant will be operational by the end of 2028
In 2024
Funding for the new pilot plant was secured in the state budget process, and the design phase was initiated.
In 2025
Plant engineering and preliminary building design began, and the existing office and laboratory building was demolished to make way for the new facility.
In 2026
General design of the pilot plant building will begin and construction will start.
In 2027
Installation of equipment will begin and the building will be completed.
In 2028
The new pilot plant will be commissioned towards the end of the year.
In 2029
The old pilot plant will be decommissioned.
Funding for the new pilot plant was secured in the state budget process, and the design phase was initiated.
In 2025
Plant engineering and preliminary building design began, and the existing office and laboratory building was demolished to make way for the new facility.
In 2026
General design of the pilot plant building will begin and construction will start.
In 2027
Installation of equipment will begin and the building will be completed.
In 2028
The new pilot plant will be commissioned towards the end of the year.
In 2029
The old pilot plant will be decommissioned.
Project stakeholders
The project is managed by Senate Properties.
The end user of the facility is Geological Survey of Finland GTK.
Construction management consulting is provided by A-Insinöörit Rakennuttaminen Oy.
The design work is carried out by Ramboll Finland and Uki Arkkitehdit Oy, among others.
Sweco Oy acts as the Owner’s Engineer.
Metso Oy is responsible for plant design.
The end user of the facility is Geological Survey of Finland GTK.
Construction management consulting is provided by A-Insinöörit Rakennuttaminen Oy.
The design work is carried out by Ramboll Finland and Uki Arkkitehdit Oy, among others.
Sweco Oy acts as the Owner’s Engineer.
Metso Oy is responsible for plant design.
GTK Mintec – a pilot plant and laboratories for the circular economy and mineral processing
GTK Mintec is a globally unique service provider. It combines mineral research laboratories with an industrial-scale pilot plant and a testing platform for the long-term behaviour of extractive waste.
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