Finland, Australia to build on long minerals connection: ambassador
- 30 October 2024
Finland’s ambassador to Australia and New Zealand, Arto Haapea, says the Nordic country can help enable a “Future Made in Australia” as strong political momentum for closer cooperation around critical minerals continues to build.
Speaking at IMARC 2024 in Sydney, Haapea described Finland as a global leader in sustainable and circular mining and mineral solutions and a hub for research, development and innovation.
This was underlined by the fact that 80% of all underground mining technology was developed in either Finland or Sweden, he said.
Australia has been one of the world’s major markets for underground hard-rock mining equipment and technology for decades and is a key, broader market for leading Nordic original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) such as Metso, Normet, Sandvik, Epiroc and FLSmidth.
The Australian Government announced earlier this year a A$22.7 billion, 10-year agenda to encourage and facilitate private sector investment in net zero projects and infrastructure under a “Future Made in Australia” banner.
Haapea said Finland and Australia were “like-minded partners in their pursuit of a secure and sustainable critical minerals and metals sector”.
Global supply chain disruptions connected to conflicts and geopolitical ructions had many countries, including Finland, working towards diversifying critical mineral supply chains and reducing dependencies.
Haapea said an updated Finland National Mineral Strategy, highlighting the role of international cooperation and partnerships, and sustainability, would be released by the end of 2024.
Finnish and Australian prime ministers, Sanna Marin and Anthony Albanese, respectively, met in 2022 and released a joint statement affirming the importance of science and technology and their cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
A year later Finland and IMARC host state, New South Wales, signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at enhancing cooperation on carbon neutral solutions.
And this year Australia and the European Union signed a MoU on critical minerals cooperation.
Birgit Tegethoff, Business Finland senior advisor, told the IMARC trade and investment session that critical minerals were essential for the transition to net zero and “so are critical technologies”.
She said Finland had comprehensive capabilities and expertise across battery and minerals value chains and one of Europe’s most advanced battery supply chains.
“Business Finland’s Hydrogen & Batteries program promotes the development and international growth of value chains, technologies, solutions and services in the Finnish hydrogen and battery industry,” Tegethoff said.
A large Business Finland-hosted delegation at IMARC features technology, mining services and mining groups such as Delta Cygni Labs, Elmery, Endomines Finland, the Geological Survey of Finland, Geopyora, Lumo Analytics, SATEL and Sumitomo SHI FW.
