PRESS RELEASE: As part of a €250 million (US$312.4 million) investment, Outokumpu's Kemi mine in northwest Finland will be deepened from the current 500m level to 1,000m to ensure continued ore supply for the future. The investment will also enable Outokumpu to maintain the current level of chromite production capacity of about 2.7Mt/y in the coming decades.

The assignment includes all basic and detailed engineering services for process, mechanical, layout, civil, structural, process electrification, information and communications technology (ICT), automation, instrumentation, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), ventilation and building electrification design disciplines as well as rock mechanics and rock engineering. Procurement support, project management and control services, site supervision and commissioning support are also included in the scope. The project will last until 2020.

Pöyry stated that operational safety, cost-effectiveness and environmentally sound operations are characteristics of the Kemi mine. Good safety performance, together with clean and properly organised working environments, both underground and on the surface, make an excellent setting for effective production, modern technological applications and the use of advanced working methods. The environmental impact of the operations in Kemi are minimised thanks to the insolubility of oxidic chromite ore, the chemical-free concentration method based on gravity, and the sealed process water circulation covering the entire mine and concentration process.

Jyrki Salmi, head of the Kemi mine, said: “Chromium is a strategically important raw material for Outokumpu, since it is what makes steel ‘stainless’. Our own chromite ore supply coupled with the related ferrochrome production give us significant competitive advantage on the market. We are pleased to move forward with expanding our underground operations in the Kemi mine to the depth of 1,000m and ensure continued chrome supply for the future.”

Kalle Rasinmäki, president of Pöyry's Industry business in northern Europe, added: “We are extremely pleased to be selected as the trusted partner of Outokumpu in this strategically important investment. Our competence will ensure that stringent health, safety and environmental standards will be met and even exceeded. In our engineering work, we pay close attention to resource efficiency and digitalisation to ensure the on-going competitiveness of the clients' business. Every plant is designed to perform with long-term results.”