The 15th Fennoscandian Exploration and Mining (FEM) conference was held in Levi, Lapland, from 28 to 30 October 2025. The Fennoscandian Exploration and Mining event is one of the largest and most significant exploration and mining industry events in Europe. FEM brings together communities and actors and promotes networking in the challenging exploration and mining industry. The international conference audience represents over 30 nationalities. The conference includes trade fairs focusing on exploration and mining companies, suppliers, universities, research institutions, authorities and research institutes.
The FEM conference also included Oulu Mining School in its own booth, where the REMHub project was also presented as a poster presentation. We also enjoyed Mr Jason Beckton’s oral presentation on the main stage of the conference, where he, among other things, introduced the activities of Bambra Oy, which is involved in REMHub.
REMHub was also represented by TalTech and the Estonian Geological Survey, who showcased ongoing phosphorite exploration in Ara-Lõuna, including pilot materials used in REMHub, and presented new findings related to REE mineralisation.
Growing interest in European exploration and unconventional deposits
The conference highlighted increasing interest from both European and international actors, including visitors from the United States and Australia, who expressed readiness to invest further in EU critical raw material projects.
Apatite-related enquiries
There was significant interest in apatite investigations and processing, particularly related to Sokli and LKAB. Discussions also touched on how findings might be extrapolated to other phosphatic deposits. Several visitors also raised questions regarding permitting processes in Estonia.
1. REE remain a “black box” topic
Across sessions and discussions, rare earth elements were repeatedly described as an area still lacking sufficient knowledge. This reinforces the need for comprehensive research across the REE value chain, aligning strongly with REMHub’s objectives.
2. Increasing awareness and momentum in Europe
Compared to previous editions, there is now a clear shift toward stronger European self-reliance. New mining and processing projects are emerging, and the overall conversation around critical raw materials has matured, reflecting a more proactive and strategic approach across the sector.
