Research area of the project: Circular economy, Information solutions

Project duration: 1.3.2023-30.11.2025

The SETELIT project investigates utilisation of mine tailings as a paste backfill material cured with a carbon-neutral method in the mining area and outside the mine sites as a material substituting concrete. The 3D printing of pieces designed outside the mining area takes place on a laboratory scale in GTK’s 3D printing laboratory and on a larger scale in the Savonia University of Applied Sciences’ 3D printing laboratory. The project promotes circular and energy economies and reduces the environmental risks and landscape impacts created by mining operations. Developed new products and methods can boost the business activities and competitiveness of companies. In addition to these, the project promotes digitalisation. 

The objectives of the project are: 

1. To develop a low-carbon, mine tailings based product similar to concrete, and to create guidelines for end-of-waste process and for productizing mine tailings-based products 
2. To promote research services related to paste backfill materials cured with carbon-neutral methods and to enhance infrastructure needed to carry out high quality Flow Loop tests 
3. To develop a digital recipe tool for low carbon mine tailings-based products and paste backfill materials 

Consortium, company partners and financing

The project is implemented by Geological Survey of Finland GTK and Savonia University of Applied Sciences. Company partners are Agnico Eagle Finland Oy, Yara Suomi Oy, LKAB Minerals Oy, Alva Oy, Sika Finland Oy, Fatec Oy, Fescon Oy ja Sibelco Nordic Oy.

The project is co-funded. The project is financed by the implementers, company partners and the EU regional development fund ERDF (the regional council of Pohjois-Savo).

Contact persons: neea.heino@gtk.fi and petri.juntunen@savonia.fi