Metso Outotec to Deliver Technology for the Keliber Lithium Project
Sibanye-Stillwater’s subsidiary Keliber has partnered with Metso Outotec to provide its sustainable soda pressure leaching technology for Keliber’s lithium hydroxide refinery, which will be built in Kokkola, Finland. Keliber owns the advanced lithium project located in the Kaustinen region of Finland, which intends to be one of the first integrated operations in Europe to sustainably produce battery-grade lithium hydroxide utilising its own ore. In addition, Metso Outotec will provide key processes for Keliber’s concentrator plant, which will be located on the border of Kaustinen and Kronoby municipalities in Finland.
Following the approval for the Keliber lithium project by Sibanye-Stillwater’s board, as announced on 28 November 2022, the first and biggest technology contract has now been signed. The combined order value is approximately EUR 120 million, of which approximately EUR 80 million is committed for the Kokkola lithium hydroxide refinery. The planned annual production of the lithium hydroxide refinery is 15,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide monohydrate.
Metso Outotec’s scope of delivery consists of the engineering and supply of most of the equipment for the lithium hydroxide refinery, as well as installation and commissioning services and training. For the concentrator plant, Metso Outotec’s scope of delivery includes engineering and supply of all the main equipment.
“Metso Outotec’s Planet Positive portfolio, which focuses on the most environmentally efficient technologies, supports the potential for the Keliber project to be a world-class lithium hydroxide producer, that is among the most sustainable in the world”, comments Hannu Hautala, CEO of Keliber.
Metso Outotec has developed lithium hard rock-related technologies for some 20 years, and collaboration with Keliber started already in the early 2000s.
“The lithium hydroxide production process has been successfully tested with Keliber’s concentrate in Metso Outotec’s pilot plant during the last few years. Metso Outotec has also provided the basic engineering for the refinery, which has given us a well-based detailed technical and economic performance review of the plant. During the planning and piloting stages, new initiatives were also developed to improve the environmental and production performance of both plants,” tells Heikki Pekkarinen, Chief Project Officer.
“We are excited that Metso Outotec has been selected as a partner for Keliber’s world-class concentrator plant and refinery project. Our proprietary soda pressure leaching technology will enable exceptional material and energy efficiency for the lithium hydroxide refinery, contributing to the sustainability and profitability of the whole project,” says Markku Teräsvasara, President of the Minerals business area at Metso Outotec.
For further information, please contact
Hannu Hautala, CEO, Keliber, tel. +358 (0)40 712 2432, hannu.hautala@keliber.fi
Heikki Pekkarinen, Chief Project Officer, Keliber, tel. +358 (0)400 293 682, heikki.pekkarinen@keliber.fi
Sami Heikkinen, Site Manager, Lithium Hydroxide Refinery, Keliber, tel. +358 (0)40 181 3051, sami.heikkinen@keliber.fi
Mikko Rantaharju, Vice President, Hydrometallurgy, Metso Outotec, tel. +358 (0)20 529 211, mikko.rantaharju@mogroup.com
Sibanye-Stillwater is a multinational mining and metals processing Group with a diverse portfolio of mining and processing operations and projects and investments across five continents. The Group is also one of the foremost global PGM auto catalytic recyclers and has interests in leading mine tailings retreatment operations.
Sibanye-Stillwater has established itself as one of the world’s largest primary producers of platinum, palladium, and rhodium and is also a top tier gold producer. It produces other PGMs, such as iridium and ruthenium, along with chrome, copper and nickel as by-products. The Group has recently begun to build and diversify its asset portfolio into battery metals mining and processing and is increasing its presence in the circular economy by growing and diversifying its recycling and tailings reprocessing operations globally.
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. Lithium hydroxide is needed especially in the batteries for electric vehicles as part of the green transition. Keliber is a subsidiary of Sibanye-Stillwater, a multinational mining and metals Group, with Finnish Minerals Group as the second largest shareholder, a state-owned company developing the value chain of lithium-ion batteries.
Metso Outotec is a frontrunner in sustainable technologies, end-to-end solutions and services for the aggregates, minerals processing and metals refining industries globally. By improving our customers’ energy and water efficiency, increasing their productivity, and reducing environmental risks with our product and process expertise, we are the partner for positive change. Metso Outotec is committed to limiting global warming to 1.5°C with Science Based Targets.
Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Metso Outotec employs over 15,000 people in more than 50 countries and its sales for 2021 were about EUR 4.2 billion. The company is listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki. mogroup.com, twitter.com/metsooutotec