Recently Updated Definitive Feasibility Study Shows Keliber’s Strong Profitability

Keliber has finalised its work to update the Definitive Feasibility Study (updated DFS). The updated DFS to produce battery-grade lithium hydroxide (LiOH) confirms a solid financial and technical feasibility of the project.

The updated DFS Has Considered the Following:

• Open pit mining of four deposits in the area, namely the Syväjärvi, Rapasaari, Länttä and Outovesi deposits
• Underground mining of the Emmes deposit as well as underground extensions of the Rapasaari and Länttä open pits
• A conventional concentrator comprising a comminution circuit including optical sorting, and flotation to produce a spodumene concentrate
• A rotary kiln for the conversion of the spodumene concentrate from alpha to beta spodumene
• Soda leaching in a pressure reactor and hydrometallurgical processing to produce 15,000 tonnes per annum of battery-grade lithium hydroxide

The forecasted demand for lithium hydroxide remains robust, which is reflected in the price outlook of lithium hydroxide. In the updated DFS, Keliber has used a price estimate for the battery-grade lithium hydroxide prepared by Roskill – Wood Mackenzie. The average LiOH price used in Keliber’s financial model is 24,936 USD/t, significantly below the current price of around 70,000 USD/t.

“The updated Definitive Feasibility Study has confirmed the high quality of the Keliber project. Under the current assumptions, the project is technically and economically feasible and provides robust economics supported by the ore reserves from Keliber’s own deposits in Finland. Our project is highly important to establish a European source of battery-grade lithium chemicals. Lithium is needed to slow down global warming,” says Hannu Hautala Keliber’s CEO.

“Our value proposition, Sustainable lithium from Europe, means that our lithium project and production are based on the principles and goals of sustainable development now and in the future. As a start-up company, Keliber can build its operations using the best available technology, guarantee efficient processes and minimise environmental impact. Keliber has also commenced studies to understand the size of our future carbon footprint and how to reduce emissions. Studies show that Keliber is forecast to be among the lithium chemical producers with the lowest Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions,” Hannu Hautala continues.

Mineral Resource and Ore Potential

Keliber’s systematic exploration work and cost-effective drilling programmes have produced excellent results and demonstrate a strong potential to increase ore reserves also in the future.

Read more:

Press Release 15 September 2021 Ore Reserves of Keliber’s Largest Lithium Deposit Increased by 55 Percent
Press Release 26 May 2021 Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources of the Rapasaari Lithium Deposit Increased by More than 30 Percent 

The information contained in this release is based on the updated Feasibility Study completed by 1 February 2022. Because the assumptions and information include risks and uncertainties (both internal and external), the actual outcome may differ from the expectations of the updated Feasibility Study.

For more information, please contact

Hannu Hautala, CEO, tel. +358 40 712 2432, hannu.hautala@keliber.fi

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.

www.keliber.fi/en