en.Wedoany.com Reported - A Latin American delegation plans to visit Finland from November 1 to 7, 2026, to learn how the country is driving one of the most innovative models in the global mining industry.
Centered on the concept of "Mining 5.0," the visit will provide a comprehensive showcase of trends transforming the mining sector, including sustainability, digitalization, automation, circular economy, critical minerals, and new ways to create value throughout the entire mining lifecycle. The itinerary includes visits to five mines, each representing different business models and industry challenges: Kemi/Outokumpu, aiming to become the world's first carbon-neutral mine; Sotkamo Silver, focused on extending the mining lifecycle; Terrafame, which has transformed from an environmental crisis into a mine with the lowest carbon footprint on the market; Pyhäsalmi Mine, adopting a "Second Life Mine" model that creates value after closure; and Sandvik Test Mine, which conducts innovation, automation, and testing under real-world conditions. Additionally, the delegation will visit the Oulu Mining School and Pilot Plant to learn about applied research, critical minerals, and future mining technologies.
The delegation will also attend FinnMateria 2026, the leading mining and mining technology event in the Nordic region for 2026. The event will bring together over 150 exhibitors and 2,500 professionals, and will feature the inaugural "Special Edition Latin America," with networking activities and pre-arranged B2B meetings to connect with exhibitors, technology suppliers, mining companies, and strategic partners.
Mikael Wänskä, Director of Business Development at FinnMateria, expressed hope to connect professionals from Finland and Latin America, fostering new opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and business, and stated that the Latin American special edition is an important step in strengthening ties between the two regions. Niina Fu, the mission organizer, said the week will be an immersive experience into the future of mining, offering an opportunity to challenge traditional models and explore how to build more sustainable, digital, and innovative mining operations. The initiative aims to provide a practical perspective on how the mining industry can evolve toward more sustainable, efficient, and technologically advanced models, and to showcase concrete experiences already implemented in Finland that can inspire the development of new solutions in Latin America.
To help potential participants gain deeper insights, Mining Finland will hold a free webinar on July 16, 2026. The webinar will introduce how Finland is leading the future of mining through the "Mining 5.0" concept, and will detail the mission's itinerary, technical visits, and information about FinnMateria 2026. The webinar will take place at 11:30 Chile time, 12:30 Argentina time, and 10:30 Colombia time.
