Mining in Finland: Frontiers and Temporalities of Extractivism

Extractivism refers to an economic and political model centered on the large-scale removal of natural resources—such as minerals, oil, gas, timber, and agricultural products—from the Earth, primarily for export and profit. One key form of extractive activity is the mining of metallic ores and minerals.Finland has a long tradition of mining that dates back centuries, but modern industrial-scale extractive operations began to take shape in the 20th century. During this period, Finland’s mining sector expanded rapidly under state-led initiatives. Although the industry eventually experienced a decline, a new mining boom has emerged since the 2010s.This resurgence was driven by the opening of “markets”—lands and metallic ores and minerals located in the subsoil strata of the Finnish state—to foreign companies. The global race for mining and metals has also intensified due to the ongoing energy transition, which involves moving away from fossil fuels and requires a significantly increased supply of mined minerals and metals. As a result, Finland becomes one of the frontiers of this new wave of extraction.The exposition invites to journey through the multiple temporalities and geographies of extractivism in Finland, exploring post-extractivist pasts alongside extractivist presents and encroaching futures. Each station tells the story of a specific location where mineral extraction or exploration is taking place, and is accompanied by theoretical reflections on what these sites reveal about the political economy and political ecology of extractivism. keywords: mining, extractivism, Finland, minerals, Indigenous, toxicity