Raw Material Self-sufficiency, Environmental Impact Reduction, Carbon-neutral Energy — New Strategy of Geological Survey of Finland Addresses the Challenges of Our Time
In the world of the future, the need for carbon-neutral energy and carbon sinks will increase, raw material and material self-sufficiency will be emphasised, and environmental impacts will need to be considered more strongly. The new strategy of Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) helps to create a sustainable world for both the environment and people.
Increased global demand for raw materials, the rush to meet climate targets and geopolitical instability have fuelled the need to secure their availability. The EU aims to increase self-sufficiency and improve access to critical raw materials. Critical raw materials include many rare metals that are needed in projects dealing with renewable energy, digital industries, and space and health technology.
“With the European Critical Raw Materials Act, we need more information on potential critical raw material deposits. In addition, recycling rates need to be increased. We are responding to this current need by raising the availability of raw materials and promoting the circular economy as our strategic focus areas,” says Kimmo Tiilikainen, Director General of the Geological Survey of Finland.
Unique in Europe, GTK Mintec, located in Outokumpu, Finland, promotes sustainable mining both in Finland and around the world. GTK aims at its renewal, modernization and capacity expansion.
“Our goal is to complete the reform of GTK Mintec during the strategy period. This still requires a further investment decision,” says Tiilikainen.
Furthermore, sustainable water resources, low carbon energy and sustainable use of the environment are GTK’s strategic focus areas.
“We are accelerating the clean transition by promoting geoenergy deployment, energy storing, and surveying locations for offshore wind and nuclear power plants. The current research area is the study of carbon sinks and storage facilities in land and aquatic environments that promote carbon market activities,” says Tiilikainen.
High-level geophysics and continuously increasing geoscience information are applied in all focus areas. New methods contribute to the production of new information with minimal environmental impact.
In addition to caring for a sustainable environment, GTK wants to strengthen the human-focused working life that cherishes coaching culture, continuous competence development, smooth work, and cooperation.
GTK renewed its strategy for 2024-2027 as an interactive process involving staff, customers, and stakeholders.
GTK’s new strategy: www.gtk.fi/en/this-is-gtk/strategy/
More information:
Director General Kimmo Tiilikainen, kimmo.tiilikainen@gtk.fi, phone +358 29 503 2200
