Finland approves first EU Natura 2000 mining exemption for nickel-copper project in protected mire

Finland’s Ministry of the Environment is reviewing an exemption permit for AA Sakatti Mining Oy to bypass EU Natura 2000 protections and mine nickel and copper deposits beneath the Viiankiaapa mire, a pristine aapa mire ecosystem in northern Finland. The site, double-protected under the EU Habitats Directive since 1998 and Finland’s Mire Conservation Act since 1988, could face irreversible destruction if the permit is approved, according to environmental assessments .

The mining project, labeled as of “overriding public interest” under the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act, would allow fast-track permits despite the site’s ecological value. The European Commission is expected to issue its opinion on the plan by the end of September. The company estimates the mine’s lifespan at 20-25 years, while critics warn the peatland’s destruction would release stored carbon and permanently lower groundwater levels, drying out the ecosystem .

Viiankiaapa is one of the last refuges in Finland for species like the ruff, bean goose, and whooping swan. Ecologists argue that compensating for its loss by protecting other areas is impossible, as the mire’s unique geography cannot be replicated .