Tapojärvi’s new mining contract at Sotkamo Silver’s silver mine commenced today as planned.
The new agreement was signed in June. The contract term is three years, with an option for Tapojärvi to extend the agreement by a further two years.
Tapojärvi is responsible for underground mining operations, including drilling and blasting, loading and hauling, as well as ore crushing.
“Our objective is zero accidents from day one. Safety guides everything we do throughout the entire contract period,” emphasizes Anssi Rytkönen, Director of Mining Services at Tapojärvi.
From Underground Mining to Open Pit Operations
Sotkamo Silver’s silver mine is an underground production facility that produces, in addition to silver, gold, zinc, and lead. The mine’s estimated remaining life is approximately seven years, and a total of around 150 employees and contractors work at the site.
Mining is primarily carried out underground using longitudinal bench stoping, with the stopes backfilled with waste rock.
However, part of the ore is extracted from an open pit that was initiated at an ore outcrop at surface. Open pit mining will continue, and the final depth of the pit will be approximately 45 metres.
“We believe that Tapojärvi is able to provide us with the necessary resources and expertise for the long-term development of our operations,” states Mikko Jalasto, CEO of Sotkamo Silver, in the company’s group release.
Sotkamo Silver
Location: Sotkamo, Kainuu
Main product: Silver; also gold, zinc, and lead
Production volume (2024): 497,000 tonnes of processed ore
Own employees: 50
Permanent contractors: 3 (approx. 100 persons)
Tapojärvi is a Finnish family-owned company providing mining services and industrial circular economy solutions for the mining and process industries. The company operates in Finland, Sweden, Italy, and Greece and employs more than one thousand industry professionals. At the core of Tapojärvi’s operations are safety, expertise, resource efficiency, and sustainable solutions that enhance customer competitiveness.
