Anglo American’s proposed Sakatti mine in northern Finland could supply Europe with more copper, nickel and cobalt. But parts of the deposit lie beneath the protected Viiankiaapa wetland, bringing mineral demand into conflict with nature conservation.
Finland’s government has requested the European Commission’s opinion before deciding whether to grant an exemption from Natura 2000 protection under the EU Habitats Directive, Politico reports.
Sakatti has been designated a strategic project under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act. The legislation aims to strengthen Europe’s raw material supply and reduce reliance on countries including China.
According to Anglo American, the mine could double Finland’s copper production and increase its nickel output by 25 per cent. The company also estimates that the operation could contribute almost €500 million annually to Finland’s economy.
Copper is used in power grids, wind turbines and electric vehicles, among other applications. Nickel is a component of certain types of lithium-ion batteries.
Disagreement over habitat compensation
Viiankiaapa is an ecologically valuable mire characterised by raised ridges and waterlogged hollows. It provides habitat for species including the ruff, a wading bird threatened in Finland.
Anglo American proposes to offset the mine’s impact by restoring degraded habitats nearby. However, according to Politico, Finnish forestry and permitting authorities consider the proposed measures insufficient to compensate for the damage.
The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation warns that an exemption could pave the way for further mining projects in protected areas. The Environment Ministry maintains that each application is assessed on its individual circumstances.
The company says biodiversity protection is central to its planning and that the project’s environmental impact will be minimised.
National protection also requires changes
Viiankiaapa is also covered by Finnish mire conservation provisions. According to Politico, these would need to be amended for the mine to proceed, requiring a parliamentary decision.
The European Commission’s assessment is ongoing. No date has been announced for its opinion.
Source: Politico, Jakob Weizman, 10 November 2026.
