Ministry of Economic Affairs 26.1.2021 | National Battery Strategy 2025 (external link)
A Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment release on the Finnish national strategy regarding lithium-ion batteries, which generated worldwide interest.
BATCircle news and stories
Recent news, announcements, and other media highlights related to BATCircle3.0 as well as their members.
Our news and press releases
Battery demand is growing exponentially – BATCircle3.0 provides a leap in battery material and recycling research in Finland
The three-year BATCircle3.0 project, led by Aalto University, offers a strategic focus on new openings for battery materials refining and battery recycling.
"Positively charged” tour features BATCircle2.0 experts
Battery events in Aalto University and LUT University connected schools, companies as well as students and employees from Finnish battery sector.![Worldwide rankings of the top 30 countries involved in global lithium-ion battery supply chain [1].](/sites/default/files/styles/2_3_819w_356h_d/public/2022-11/BNEF-Figure-1-2022-Global-Lithium-ion-Battery-Supply-Chain-Ranking.png?h=7277762c&itok=YfDcSf83)
Finland ranks top 4 in global lithium-ion battery supply chain
BloombergNEF (BNEF) has ranked Finland as 4th worldwide and 1st Europewide in their lithium-ion battery supply chain ranking.Finnish national strategy
Business Finland's 2021 release on Finland's National Battery Strategy and The Ministry of Economic Affairs' 2024 National Mineral Strategy will guide Finnish decision-making in the future. In 2025, GTK has published the National Exploration Program, intended to aid decision-making in the European Commission. Take a look!
Business Finland 4.2.2025 | The New National Mineral Strategy Responds to a Changing World (external link)
On December 19, 2024, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland published the country's new National Mineral Strategy, which outlines the future of sustainable and responsible exploitation of minerals.
GTK 6.11.2025 | National Exploration Program of Finland (external link)
GTK has published the national exploration program, required under the Critical Raw Materials Act.
Fraser Institute 29.7.2025 | Finland claims #1 spot as the world's most attractive location for mining investments (external link)
Finland claims the top spot as the most attractive location for global mining investments in the Fraser Institute's 2024 survey of mining companies.
GTK 3.7.2025 | Finland has a Role in the EU Battery Mineral Value Chain Especially in Nickel and Cobalt (external link)
A new research report by the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) presents an assessment of Finland’s current and prospective contribution to the European battery value chain.
T&T 7.6.2025 | Business Finland begins a year-long investment campaign targeting mining and minerals production (external link)
According to Business Finland, Finland could grow faster than the market in the fields of mineral recycling and circular economy. However, this requires investments.
Business Finland 18.12.2024 | Finnish Listed Companies Leading the Circular Economy in the Nordics (external link)
Finnish listed companies are pioneers in advancing the circular economy in the Nordic region.
T&T 13.4.2023 | Goverment has given 130 million in aid to battery industry in past 4 years - expectations of growth (external link)
The Finnish battery industry is still in early stages. Article lists related companies and their financial growth. Article in Finnish.
T&T 7.4.2023 | A geological find of rare earth metals from 1967 could be worth more than gold in the current year (external link)
Analysis of metal availability and the profitability of old geological surveys. Article in Finnish.
Yle 1.4.2023 | Pressure to open new and old mines grows in Finland (external link)
Finland holds critical raw materials to be mined, refined or recycled according to EU's interests. Article in Finnish.
Yle 24.3.2023 | Exploration in Finland has increased by 17.4% (external link)
The need for mines has increased with the electrification of vehicles and the shift to green energy sources. Article in Finnish.
Finland ranks top 4 in global lithium-ion battery supply chain
BloombergNEF (BNEF) has ranked Finland as 4th worldwide and 1st Europewide in their lithium-ion battery supply chain ranking.
T&T 11.11.2023 | Fortum opens in Harjavalta Europe's biggest battery recycling centre (external link)
Through hydrometallurgical means, battery waste will be recycled with an expected input capacity of 30 000 tons by 2027. The production is scheduled to begin in 2025.
T&T 30.1.2023｜Thousand exploration attempts net one mine (external link)
Article in Finnish.
Yle 28.11.2022︱Keliber begins constructing Europe’s first lithium mine facilities in Finland (external link)
English article also available on Mining Weekly: https://www.miningweekly.com/article/metso-outotec-to-provide-soda-pressure-leaching-technology-for-keliber-refinery-2022-12-19
Forbes Japan 9.6.2021: The reason why Finland, a small powerhouse, has turned to the world's first national battery strategy (external link)
Finland's National Battery Strategy and BATCircle featured in Forbes Japan
Edaily 11.5.21 | Finland's national battery strategy (external link)
Article in Korean.
BATCircle research in the media
News articles and other content featuring the BATCircle consortium.
Recording of the BATCircle3.0 kickoff seminar
A recording of the BATCircle3.0 kickoff seminar held in Otaniemi, Espoo, on the 1st of April 2025.
BATCircle2.0 30.3.2023 | Winning in ecosystems: What is the value for me? (external link)
Webinar about "win-win ecosystems" related to BATCircle2.0. Join with link: https://aalto.zoom.us/j/65074785901
T&T 30.1.2023｜Thousand exploration attempts net one mine (external link)
Article in Finnish.
KL 4.10.2022: Battery minerals are running out due to the green transition (external link)
Assistant Professor Rodrigo Serna (Aalto University) and Associate Research Professor Simon Michaux (GTK) were interviewed by Kauppalehti about the demand and deficiency of battery minerals and metals.
VTV Publications 6.5.21 | Insights into sustainable mining in Finland (external link)
National Audit Office of Finland (NAOF/VTV) has published a report on sustainable mining in Finland. The report is in Finnish.
Mining.com 5.4.21: Raw materials from EV battery recycling have smaller carbon footprint (external link)
A news piece on Mining.com on the new study by Rinne et al.
Phys.org 31.3.21: Is battery recycling environmentally friendly? (external link)
A Phys.org news piece on the new study by Rinne et al.
T&T 31.3.21: Battery waste recycling (external link)
T&T featured BATCircle in its article about battery waste recycling (in Finnish).
YLE 3.3.2021: Battery industry and Finland (external link)
Prof. Mari Lundström (Aalto University) discussed battery production and recycling in Finland at Yle Ykkösaamu (in Finnish).
DNA Tulevaisuustehdas: Sähköistyminen (Electrification) (external link)
Marja Rinne (Aalto University) visited the DNA Tulevaisuustehdas video series to discuss battery recycling. Content in Finnish.
TM 14.8.2019: Li-ion battery recycling (external link)
Prof. Mari Lundström was interviewed by Tekniikan Maailma (in Finnish).
T&T 1.3.2019: 10 mil. additional funding for battery research in Finland (external link)
Article about the BATCircle consortium (in Finnish).
HS 18.5.2019: The battery industry in Finland (external link)
Helsingin Sanomat wrote about the Finnish battery industry (in Finnish).
BATCircle members in the media
News articles and important announcements featuring BATCircle consortium commercial partners.
Yle 10.7.2025 | The expansion of the battery recycling plant in Harjavalta received investment support of over 80 million euros (external link)
Fortum plans to increase the battery recycling capacity in Harjavalta nearly tenfold. The final investment decision has not yet been made.
Yle 1.7.2025 | A new anode material plant in the works in Kotka (external link)
Grafintec is planning a €675 million investment close to the CAM plant, which is already under construction.
Business Finland 11.12.2024 | European RDI projects: achieving a competitive edge at an international level (external link)
Spring 2025 brings new opportunities for Finnish actors in the battery space, as Horizon Europe will open to funding applications in May.
Yle 25.9.2024 | Currently no lithium is produced in Europe – but soon mining will begin in Finland (external link)
Finland is trying to find more sustainable and efficient ways to produce lithium. There are reserves in Europe, but often, the obstacle is opposition to mining or poor profitability.
T&T 11.11.2023 | Fortum opens in Harjavalta Europe's biggest battery recycling centre (external link)
Through hydrometallurgical means, battery waste will be recycled with an expected input capacity of 30 000 tons by 2027. The production is scheduled to begin in 2025.
T&T 23.3.2023 | Fortum and Outokumpu consider the benefits of a small modular nuclear reactor at Tornio steel plant (external link)
The two companies are figuring out if Finland can support the use of small modular reactors and if it could be used in Tornio. Articles in Finnish.
A! 24.2.2023 | Energy Futures: Critical minerals, climate neutrality and transition pathways (external link)
An exhibition on energy transitions and the challenges and solutions driving our response to the global energy crisis across research and industry on 16.3 in Dipoli, Otaniemi.
Paristokierrätys 27.1. 2023｜Rare earth metals from lithium batteries lacking recycling processes (external link)
Prof. Lundström comments on small-sized lithium battery recycling in EU. Article in Finnish.
T&T 18.1.2023｜Terrafame to deliver battery materials to world's 3rd largest car manufacturer (external link)
5-year contract with Stellantis starts in 2025. Article in Finnish.
Mining 6.1.2023｜Finnish technology improves lithium’s production efficiency (external link)
Sensmet's µDOES performs fast online analysis, and was piloted in Keliber's lithium production.
Aalto University 7.12.2022｜Aalto University and Boliden strengthen top-level expertise in metallurgy (external link)
Competence in metallurgy is needed as the energy transition increases the demand for metals, and the reuse of materials requires new competence.
Yle 28.11.2022︱Keliber begins constructing Europe’s first lithium mine facilities in Finland (external link)
English article also available on Mining Weekly: https://www.miningweekly.com/article/metso-outotec-to-provide-soda-pressure-leaching-technology-for-keliber-refinery-2022-12-19
BATCircle companies receive funding from first IPCEI (external link)
The European Commission has approved under EU State aid rules an Important Project of Common European interest (“IPCEI”) to support research and innovation in the common European priority area of batteries.
Johnson Matthey chose Vaasa for sustainable battery materials plant | Gigavaasa (external link)
The City of Vaasa and Johnson Matthey have signed a Common Letter of Intent on 2 April 2021. The front-end engineering design for the battery value chain operator Johnson Matthey’s commercial plant in Vaasa has begun. The plant is planned to be in operation in 2024.
The Batteries European Partnership Association (BEPA) is now up and running! (external link)
BATCircle members appointed to the executive board and association delegation of Batteries European Partnership Association (BEPA)
BATCircle companies receive funding from second IPCEI (external link)
The Commission has approved a second Important Project of Common European Interest (“IPCEI”) to support research and innovation in the battery value chain.
Terrafame’s nickel sulphate production offers the lowest carbon footprint in the industry (external link)
The carbon footprint is altogether 60% lower than in existing conventional processes.