Established in 2015, Terrafame operates a major multi-metal mine in Sotkamo, Finland, which is home to Europe’s largest nickel and cobalt ore reserves. The site at Kuusilampi uses energy-efficient bioleaching to produce battery chemicals for electric vehicles, among other critical and strategic metals for the EU’s green transition. In recent years, it has gained a strong reputation for producing high-purity nickel and cobalt sulphates, and become a key player in the European battery value chain.
Terrafame’s integrated production process – which begins in its own mine and ends with metal intermediates and battery chemicals on one industrial site – is unique and energy-efficient. This provides its customers with a transparent, traceable and genuinely European production chain.
The bioleaching technology remains one of the most environmentally advanced process in the industry, by achieving significantly lower emissions and a smaller carbon footprint than traditional producers. For example, the carbon footprint of the nickel sulphate produced by Terrafame is significantly smaller than that of conventional production methods.
As European automakers and battery manufacturers increasingly prioritise sustainability and traceability in their supply chains, Terrafame’s local, low-emission production meets that demand head-on.
To continue to meet growing demand, Terrafame is investing in expanding production capacity while enhancing efficiency. Throughout 2025, the company increased its production capabilities and refined core processes to maintain steady volumes. It is also aiming to evolve from being a battery chemicals producer into a broader multi-metal and battery chemical company.
In 2022-25, the total designed mining volume of the Kuusilampi open-pit mine (including ore and waste rock) was 52 Mt/y. In March 2025, the Kolmisoppi deposit – part of Terrafame’s wider resource base – was granted strategic project status under the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA). The company has plans to open this deposit by 2028 and use it alongside the current Kuusilampi site at the end of the 2020s. Combining these deposits will enable production until (or even beyond) the 2050s.
To achieve its future targets and ambitions, Terrafame has also been strengthening relationships with its partners, not least Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV (HCME) and its authorised dealer in Finland, Rotator. The first Hitachi rigid dump trucks and ultra-large excavators arrived in 2008, and Rotator’s on-site parts and technical support team have been responsible for maintenance and service ever since.
Today the Terrafame fleet includes two EX3600-7 and one EX3600-6 ultra-large excavators, which are used for loading blasted ore and waste rock. The EX3600-6, delivered in October 2018, now has over 40,000 hours. The two EX3600-7s, delivered in December 2022 and October 2023, have approximately 20,000 and 14,000 hours respectively.
It takes four to five passes to fill the Hitachi rigid dump trucks. Terrafame currently has 16 models in operation, including eight EH3500AC-3s and eight EH3500ACIIs. The former were delivered between December 2022 and August 2024 and have between approximately 11,000 and 19,000 hours. The older ACII trucks arrived on site between December 2009 and July 2017, and have between approximately 52,000 and 82,000 hours.
The EX-7 excavators and AC-3 dump trucks were ordered in 2021 due to the successful cooperation between Terrafame and Rotator, and the competitive life-cycle costs of the Hitachi machines. Proven high utilisation, reliability and uptime of the existing Hitachi fleet within the mine at the time were also cited as decisions for further investment.
Antti Lakkala, Head of Production – Mining at Terrafame
According to Antti Lakkala, Head of Production – Mining at Terrafame, these factors remain consistent, five years on, despite the difficult and changeable working conditions in Finland. “The biggest challenge is the weather,” he explains. “With rain, winter and hard frost, our working conditions change all year round. It challenges our road maintenance and therefore the use of dump truck tyres, and usability of the dump trucks. Cold winters also challenge us with the use of the excavators.”
Nevertheless, Terrafame set out to achieve better efficiency, utilisation and loading capacity, and the new additions to the fleet have lived up to expectations. Sami Laitila, Rotator’s Director of Mining Equipment and Service, explains: “The customer really wanted new-generation machines that meet the latest emission regulations, reduce their operating costs and show that fuel economy can also be achieved with significant savings. These machines have responded well in this way. In addition, the customer’s utilisation rate target is 72% OEE [Overall Equipment Effectiveness]. This means that we have to work carefully and constantly to achieve Terrafame’s goals.”
Terrafame is also satisfied that its requirements are being met by both manufacturer and local dealer. “Rotator and Hitachi have met our challenges, and high utilisation and availability are being achieved,” confirms Lakkala.
The reliable performance of the new machines is evident to Rotator Service Manager Jussi Tolonen. “The mining excavators have proven to be very fuel-efficient and reliable. There have been very few breakdowns. The same can be said of the rigid dump trucks. The fuel-efficiency and driver’s comfort have improved. They are also much faster and more productive than the old models.”
The strong after-sales support provided by his team has also played a major role in the success story at Sotkamo. “Parts delivery, technical support and everything is done in such a way that the machines can be kept in optimum condition,” says Tolonen. “The cooperation between Terrafame, Rotator and Hitachi over the years is excellent. The whole thing works.”
It is the people behind the products, the service and the mine itself who should take credit for the continued success of this operation over the past 18 years. As Lakkala comments: “Over the years we have gained extensive experience with the same equipment, our operating conditions and our challenges. It has brought know-how on both sides, as well as trust in cooperation. It is vital that the teams work closely together, and I can see that this will be even better in the future.”
He adds: “In this way, we are developing in the right direction. We need to look to the future, so that our efficiency and productivity are constantly improving. Also, we can transition to better, more environmentally friendly technology through an appropriate understanding of planning and product design.”