Betolar and JA-KO Betoni to Develop a Low-Carbon Solution for Keliber’s Lithium Mine Side Streams
(Joint press release by Betolar, Keliber and JA-KO Betoni)
Quickly developed material technology company Betolar and JA-KO Betoni, a company reforming the concrete industry, are assisting Keliber, which is preparing a lithium mine in Kaustinen, Finland, in utilising the massive side streams typically produced in the mining industry.
Tailings produced as a side stream in Keliber’s minerals processing and analcime sand produced later in the lithium production process will be used in concrete production as aggregate at JA-KO Betoni’s plant in Kokkola, Finland.
The Geoprime® solution developed by Betolar will replace cement used as a binder in concrete production with blast furnace slag produced through a steel industry side stream in Raahe, Finland. Replacing cement will significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Low-carbon concrete can be used, for example, in the structures of Keliber’s mine.
“Significant environmental benefits arise in two ways. Firstly, replacing cement with materials refined from industrial side streams will drastically cut CO2 emissions from the raw material, to as much as one-fifth of current levels. Secondly, the use of side streams as the aggregate for concrete instead of natural rock material significantly reduces the use of virgin natural resources,” says Innovation Director Juha Leppänen, the Founder of Betolar.
Different side streams, which must be reused or deposited, are produced in mining activities. Most of these side streams are put in a waste rock stockpile at the mining site. Material reuse saves virgin natural resources. From Betolar’s perspective, side stream materials are important future raw material sources whose utilisation in the more extensive industrial scale has only just started.
“We wanted to ensure well in advance that the environmental impact of our lithium mines will be as low as possible. Our future side streams will not only be environmentally safe but will also enable the creation of new products and reduction of the use of virgin raw materials,” says Hannu Hautala, CEO at Keliber.
The concrete industry produces a significant proportion of human CO2 emissions. The proportion of cement used in concrete production amounts globally to approximately seven per cent of the CO2 emissions whereas the proportion, for example, of air traffic in normal times amounts to 2–3 per cent. With Betolar’s solution, it is possible to reduce the CO2 emissions of raw materials by up to 80% in many concrete industry product groups.
“The concrete industry needs new solutions to reduce emissions. Together with Betolar, we are developing several products in which cement is replaced with binders that are considerably less burdensome for the environment. We will invest in the production of new, more environmentally-friendly concrete products in Kokkola, Finland, which will create significant competitive advantage for our industry,” says Jaakko Eloranta, CEO at JA-KO BetoniBetolar – Keliber – JA-KO Betoni
Matti Löppönen and Juha Leppänen from Betolar, Jaakko Eloranta, JA-KO Betoni, and Hannu Hautala, Keliber
Inquiries:
Matti Löppönen, CEO, Betolar Oy, tel. +358 (0)50 306 6335, matti.lopponen@betolar.com
Juha Leppänen, Innovation Director, Betolar Ltd, tel. +358 (0)40 544 4861, juha.leppanen@betolar.com
Jaakko Eloranta, CEO, JA-KO Betoni Ltd, tel. +358 (0)44 066 5635, jaakko.eloranta@jakobetoni.fi
Hannu Hautala, CEO, Keliber Oy, tel. +358 (0)40 712 2432, hannu.hautala@keliber.fi
About Betolar
Betolar Oy is a Finnish material technology company that offers sustainable and low-carbon concrete production with Geoprime®. The solution converts several previously unused massive industrial side streams into a substitute for cement.
By optimising existing manufacturing processes, Betolar's AI-based innovation can significantly reduce CO2 emissions compared to traditional cement-based concrete production. The mission of Betolar is to enable the green transformation of different industries with its licensed solutions, especially in the construction, concrete, cement and mining industries. www.betolar.com
About Keliber
Keliber is a Finnish mining and battery chemical company that aims to start the sustainable production of battery-grade lithium hydroxide, utilising its own ore, in 2024. Lithium hydroxide is an essential component in lithium-ion batteries, which enable the electrification of transportation, the storage of renewable energy and speed up digitalisation.
Keliber operates in Central Ostrobothnia, Finland, where some of the most significant lithium deposits in Europe are found. The lithium mines are located in the municipalities of Kaustinen, Kokkola and Kruunupyy, where a concentrator is also being built. The chemical plant will be located in Kokkola Industrial Park, which has excellent transportation connections. The construction phase of the lithium project is scheduled to start in 2022. www.keliber.fi/en/
About JA-KO Betoni
JA-KO Betoni Ltd is a professional concrete company based in Kokkola, Finland. It has a total of 50 years of experience from the concrete industry. The company offers its customers a wide range of concrete products and ready-mixed concrete as well as different tailored service concepts in Finland and in export projects.
JA-KO Betoni has ready-mixed concrete plants in Kokkola, Pietarsaari, Närpiö, Mustasaari and Seinäjoki. The plant manufacturing concrete products, such as manhole rings, pole foundations and concrete weights, is located in Kokkola. The foundry in Pietarsaari casts agricultural elements and other special products to satisfy customer needs. JA-KO Betoni is an independent subsidiary of Ruskon Betoni. www.jakobetoni.fi/home/
Keliber in Brief
Keliber is a Finnish mining and battery chemical company that aims to start the sustainable production of battery-grade lithium hydroxide, utilising its own ore, in 2024.
