Ympäristötekniikan kehitys Suomen kaivoksilla

Outokumpu antaa esimerkin

Authors

• Ismo Björn

Abstract

Metallurgy and Politics. Mines in Finland and International Affairs from the 1920s until the end of Second World WarThe Outokumpu and Petsamo ores, found in 1908 and 1922, gave possibilities for reaching political and economic freedom for the newly independent Finland during the time in between the great wars in Europe. However, several problems occurred in the mining operations. There was not enough knowhow or free capital in the country to successfully operate the planned mines. The possibilities for any activities were to lean on state funding or on foreign corporations. In the field of nonferrous metal trade there were two major operators, German Metallgesellschaft and INCO’s British subsidiary. Both possibilities tied the Finnish metal industry to the political strive of the great powers. The production of copper was funded by Finnish state capital and tied in to the German economic and technological complex, and the nickel into the British-led INCO complex. During the late 1930’s and the years of WWII the technological complex of metallurgy and mining in Finland was carefully conducted for the aims of the foreign policy.