PRESS RELEASE: 12th Fennoscandian Exploration and Mining Conference (FEM 2019)
Wednesday 23 October 2019
Opportunities and challenges in the mineral sector are increasing!
The Fennoscandian Exploration and Mining Conference (FEM) is one of the largest and most significant mining industry events in Europe. FEM 2019, the twelfth conference since 1998, will be held on 29 – 31 October 2019 in Levi, Lapland, Finland. FEM is jointly organized by partners from Finland, Sweden and Norway.
At FEM, mineral business professionals have an excellent chance to learn more about exploration and mining, economic geology, research, environmental and social aspects, permitting and investments in Fennoscandia. FEM will offer outstanding networking opportunities for key players to meet face-to-face, to form new connections, and to do business.
“Investments in ore exploration are at their highest in years in the area of the Fennoscandian Shield. Active exploration and fresh ideas have produced interesting new indications of ores, some of which are directly in exposed rock surfaces. This is a good reminder that there is a real need for basic terrain work and geological surveying by experienced prospectors. These and many other current issues in the mining sector, from the development of technologies to the sector’s societal impacts, will be discussed at FEM.” says Chair of the FEM 2019 Organizing committee Dr. Juhani Ojala, Chief Geoscientist from Geopool and Aurion Resources Ltd.
“For many participants it has become a must to attend FEM because so many of the key players are at the same place, at the same time. Next week we will welcome over 1100 participants from 31 countries in Levi. It takes up to two years to organize each FEM, and we set our goals very high.” says FEM Project Manager Riitta Muhojoki from the Regional Council of Lapland.
“Climate change will challenge us in an unprecedented way. We will need new solutions, innovations and technology to respond to this challenge. I see the sustainable mining industry as the most important enabler of the revolution in energy production and carbon-free electrification, especially here in the north where activities are responsible and transparent.” says Chair of the FEM 2019 Steering committee Mika Riipi, County Governor of Lapland from the Regional Council of Lapland.
Background information
FEM is organized in collaboration between the Regional Council of Lapland, Council of Oulu Region, Regional Council of Kainuu, Regional Council of North Karelia, the Geological Surveys of Finland (GTK), Sweden (SGU) and Norway (NGU), University of Oulu – Oulu Mining School, Luleå University of Technology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, the Finnish Mining Association (FinnMin) and the Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (TEM). International FEM partners: The Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) and the Embassy of Canada to Finland.
In addition to the conference there is a trade show, short courses and excursions to Agnico Eagle Finland Oy’s Kittilä mine and Boliden’s Kevitsa mine. Programme, speaker introductions and the list of exhibitors are available at https://femconference.fi/.
Further information in Finland
- Dr. Juhani Ojala, Chief Geoscientist, GeoPool and Aurion Resources Ltd., Juhani.ojala(at)geopool.fi, +358 40 773 2116
- County Governor of Lapland, Mika Riipi, Regional Council of Lapland, mika.riipi(at)lapinliitto.fi, +358 44 767 4200
- FEM Project Manager, Riitta Muhojoki, Regional Council of Lapland, riitta.muhojoki(at)lapinliitto.fi, +358 40 711 8387
Further information in Sweden
- Dr. Kaj Lax, Head of department, Mineral Resources, Geological Survey of Sweden, kaj.lax(at)sgu.se, +46 70 224 6385
Further information in Norway
- Jan Sverre Sandstad, Senior Geologist, Team Leader Mineral Resources, Geological Survey of Norway, jan.sandstad(at)ngu.no, +47 990 91 746