Betolar's New Metal Extraction Technology to Support Anglo American's Drive Towards Circularity

Betolar Plc

Press Release

4 July 2025 at 8.15 A.M. EEST

Betolar's New Metal Extraction Technology to Support Anglo American's Drive Towards Circularity

Betolar is commercially collaborating with leading global mining company Anglo American on the use of metal extraction technology and green cement production at the Sakatti Cu-Ni-multimetallic project located in Sodankylä, Finland. Anglo American aims to establish a low-waste mine  that leverages circular economy solutions.

The primary goal of the commercial collaboration is to produce green cement for the tailings paste backfill at the future Sakatti mining operation. Green cement is produced from material which would otherwise be consigned to waste. Betolar's metal extraction technology enables the recovery of valuable metals and minerals from the waste material with the remainder being suitable for cement production. Betolar’s solution not only helps to reduce waste overall but also aims to lower costs and create profitable waste management processes in mining operations.

Betolar will further develop tailored solutions for the Sakatti mine to minimize CO₂ emissions and help implement practical steps toward carbon-neutral mining.

“Our metal extraction technology enables both the efficient recovery of valuable metals and the production of low-carbon green cement – all from the same waste material stream.  We are pleased to support Sakatti mine’s goal of minimizing mineral waste,” says Tuija Kalpala, President and CEO of Betolar.

“Anglo American is designing and developing Sakatti as one of our next generation of FutureSmart mines - a low-carbon underground operation with minimal surface footprint. At the heart of this approach is our commitment to protecting the environment and embedding circular practices where possible, working with our partners to harness innovative solutions which reduce waste, while finding opportunity to transform any remaining material into potentially valuable resources”, says Pertti Lamberg, CEO of Anglo American in Finland.

The green cement produced with Betolar's metal extraction process has proven to be an exceptionally high-quality binder in testing. Its strength development properties are significantly better than those of traditional cement substitutes, such as ground-granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS). Utilizing green cement produced from the mine’s own side streams positions Anglo American as a pioneer - demonstrating that responsible mining companies are ready to adopt cutting-edge technologies to advance sustainable development.

“The usability of circular economy products depends primarily on their quality. The green cement produced by our technology not only matches but can even surpass the performance of traditional cements. Therefore, quality will not be a barrier to the adoption of circular economy solutions,” continues Kalpala.

Betolar Plc

For more information:

Tuija Kalpala, President and CEO, Betolar Plc, tel. +358 50 567 6608, tuija.kalpala@betolar.com

Pertti Lamberg, CEO of Anglo American in Finland, tel: +358 40 128 3988, pertti.lamberg@angloamerican.com

About Betolar

Betolar is a circular economy enabler and materials technology specialist, providing innovative solutions to help use industrial sidestreams to produce low-carbon and cement-free products for the mining and construction sectors.  Betolar's mission is to help reduce carbon emissions and the use of virgin resources in mining and construction. 

Betolar's circular economic innovations significantly reduce CO2 emissions from cement use and the use of virgin raw materials by utilizing industrial sidestreams.  Betolar is continuously developing its low-carbon Geoprime solution for the mining, metals and construction industries. In addition, Betolar's AI-based data platform creates value from industrial side streams and accelerates solution development. The SidePrime analytics service, based on the data platform, maps the potential for utilization of industrial sidestreams and waste. 

Betolar was founded in 2016 and is domiciled in Kannonkoski, Finland. Betolar is listed on the Nasdaq First North Growth Market. For more information www.betolar.com.