AFRY says it has been awarded the contract to lead the prefeasibility study for Anglo American’s Sakatti mining project in Finland.
The mine will be designed as a highly automated, low-carbon underground operation with minimal surface footprint. It will contribute to the production of critical minerals for Europe’s green transition, Anglo American states.
The objective of the contracted study is to refine the project details and economic assessment further with precise and detailed information, establishing a solid groundwork for the feasibility stage, AFRY says.
Nicholas Oksanen, EVP Global Division Industry, AFRY, said: “We’re proud to have been selected to lead the Sakatti prefeasibility study. This opportunity underlines our expertise in sustainable mining engineering and reinforces our commitment to responsibly supporting Europe’s green transition.”
Pertti Lamberg, CEO of Anglo American in Finland, added: “We are pleased to be working with AFRY to advance the prefeasibility stage at Sakatti. This phase is an important milestone in the development of the Sakatti project which represents one of Anglo American’s next generation of FutureSmart mines – a highly automated, low-carbon underground operation with minimal surface footprint.”
Anglo American aims to start Sakatti mining operations in the early 2030s, and is expected to deliver around 100,000 t of copper-equivalent metal production per year. The company has completed the project’s environmental impact assessment and Natura assessment and has submitted a mining permit application to the Finnish Mining Authority Tukes. Earlier this year, the project received strategic project status under the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act.
The prefeasibility study is estimated to be completed by the end of 2026.
