Kicking off the MINERVA project to advance water stewardship in Arctic mining

We are proud to be part of a consortium of the EU LIFE Programme funded MINERVA (MINeral Efficiency, Recovery and Valorisation in the Arctic) project to demonstrate new solutions for critical raw material recovery, circular mining and sustainable water management at the Sokli project in Eastern Lapland.

The Sokli deposit in Finland hosts significant phosphate resources as well as valuable rare earth elements, niobium and iron, considered strategically important for the EU's green transition. Through a multi-commodity mining approach, the project aims to recover several minerals from the same ore body while reducing waste and improving overall resource efficiency.

As part of MINERVA, we will pilot our filtration technology at the Sokli miniplant to improve mining water treatment by removing suspended solids, enabling higher water reuse and better discharge quality. This supports reduced environmental impact and more efficient water circulation in mining operations.

Together with partners including Finnish Minerals Group Oy, Betolar Oy, RINA Consulting S.p.A. and Sokli Oy, the project aims to show how mining can support the EU’s green transition while safeguarding water resources and advancing circular economy principles.

“Our key starting point is that environmental risks are identified and learned to be managed before actual mining begins – not during or after it. The pilot enables verification of water management, waste streams and structures at a smaller scale and under controlled conditions. In this way, the overall risk to a sensitive environment can be significantly reduced compared to direct industrial-scale implementation,” says Acting CEO Pasi Heino of Sokli Oy.

“Finland is strong player in mining technology innovation, and MINERVA represents a unique opportunity to demonstrate emerging solutions at an unprecedented scale. For Sofi Filtration, the project offers a unique opportunity to validate advanced water treatment technologies and help shape more sustainable mining practices,” says CEO Riina Salmimies of Sofi Filtration Oy

The MINERVA project runs for three and a half years and is supported by the EU LIFE Programme with a total budget of nearly €8.8 million.