Tungsten and Molybdenum from Southern Gold Line
Tungsten and molybdenum – critical minerals for industry
Tungsten is a critical material for several key industries that require exceptional durability, heat resistance, and performance. These industries include, among others, mechanical engineering and metalworking, electronics and energy technology, as well as the aerospace and defence sectors. Medical technology also utilises tungsten due to its high density and radiation resistance. Molybdenum is used, for example, in specialty steels, catalysts in the chemical industry, and applications in the energy sector—areas where material performance and security of supply are critical.
Production highly concentrated outside Europe
Current tungsten production is heavily concentrated in China, which accounts for approximately 80% of global output, while the European Union’s share is only around 2–3%. Molybdenum production is also largely concentrated outside the EU, particularly in China and major mining countries in the Americas. Consequently, the European Union is almost entirely dependent on imports of these critical industrial metals.
Start of tungsten and molybdenum production and EU Strategic Project status
Endomines Finland Plc has submitted an application in January 2026 to the European Union for Strategic Project status for the company’s Southern Gold Line tungsten, molybdenum and gold project. The application covers the entire southern part of the Karelian Gold Line, where Endomines aims to start gold, molybdenum and tungsten production around 2030. Endomines estimates that the Southern Gold Line’s tungsten production potential corresponds to approximately 0.5–2.5% of total annual global tungsten production.
The strategic project status is based on the European Union’s legislation on critical raw materials (the Critical Raw Materials Act, CRMA), which aims to strengthen the EU’s self sufficiency and secure the availability of critical minerals.
Recovery of critical minerals contributes to the sustainability of the gold production chain
According to the company’s research, tungsten and molybdenum occur in the waste rock generated during gold production. Recovering these minerals as part of the gold production process significantly improves resource efficiency and ensures that valuable raw materials are not lost. Utilising the waste rock reduces environmental impact, strengthens the project’s economic viability and enhances the overall sustainability of the production chain. This approach reflects the principles of modern mining, where the goal is to maximise the use of natural resources and minimise waste.
We are proudly a Finnish gold producer. We see tungsten and molybdenum as strategically important minerals, and their production as a kind of civic duty. We are currently working to ensure that downstream processing of the final products will take place within the EU
CEO of Endomines Finland Plc
Endomines receives EU and state funding to advance critical minerals project
Endomines Oy has been granted a business development subsidy of up to EUR 1.51 million by Economic Development Centre of Eastern Finland for the project “Endomines – Producer of Critical Minerals”. The funding consists of approximately EUR 0.96 million allocated to development measures and approximately EUR 0.55 million to investments.
The project receives funding from the EU regional and structural policy programme “Renewing and Competent Finland 2021–2027” and is aimed at strengthening research and innovation capabilities as well as supporting the adoption of advanced technologies.
The project will assess the economic and operational conditions for tungsten and molybdenum mining. In addition, it includes related analysis, testing and planning activities, such as analysis of tungsten and molybdenum drill core samples, till sampling, beneficiation tests, environmental characterization of mining waste, mineralogical evaluations and process design.
According to the Economic Development Centre, the project is expected to have a significant impact on Endomines’ long-term competitiveness and the development of the company’s operations. The project will be carried out in Ilomantsi between June 2025 and April 2028.
This funding is an important step in advancing Endomines’ strategy. Critical minerals such as tungsten are essential for European self-sufficiency, and molybdenum is an important industrial raw material. The project strengthens our ability to assess and develop the responsible production of these minerals in Finland
Kari Vyhtinen, CEO of Endomines
