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The mining and circular economy company Tapojärvi says it is expanding its operations into metal recovery without traditional mining through a joint venture. The newest member of the Tapojärvi Group, Zero Mine Solutions Oy, utilises a leaching-based process for the separation of valuable metals from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Behind Zero Mine are Tapojärvi Oy, the water and energy company Alva-yhtiöt Oy, and Elker Oy, an expert in producer responsibility for electrical and electronic equipment.
The joint venture’s aim is to develop alternatives to the extraction of virgin raw materials and to meet Europe’s growing demand for critical metals.
“This is a natural continuation of Tapojärvi’s strategy, in which we combine mining services with the circular economy,” says Board Member Mauri Kauppi.
Zero Mine is currently preparing to build a pre-commercial production plant in Jyväskylä. The project is in the zoning and environmental permitting phase. At the initial stage, Zero Mine’s recovery process will focus on the efficient and high-purity recovery of gold, copper, silver, and palladium. In the future, the method will also be expanded to the recovery of rare earth elements from WEEE.
“Hydrometallurgical processes require precise planning. Tapojärvi’s expertise ensures that the process is carried out safely and responsibly,” says Development Manager Juha Koskinen.
Zero Mine seeks to develop its process first in the pre-commercial plant, but in the long term, the goal is a broader industrial application. “Even a pre-commercial plant can be profitable, which creates a strong foundation for the future,” Kauppi estimates.
Zero Mine’s technology can provide an alternative to traditional mining and promote the circular economy by reducing the need for new mines.
Zero Mine is a circular economy pioneer company established through the collaboration of Alva, Elker, and Tapojärvi. The company ‘mines metals without mining’ by recovering critical raw materials from electronic waste and returning them to industry as clean and high-quality materials. Zero Mine aims to address the global shortage of critical raw materials and increase the recycling rate of electrical equipment towards the EU’s reuse and recovery targets.