Posted by Daniel Gleeson on nineteenth December 2022

Sibanye-Stillwater’s subsidiary Keliber has partnered with Metso Outotec to supply its sustainable soda stress leaching know-how for Keliber’s lithium hydroxide refinery, which will probably be in-built Kokkola, Finland.

Keliber owns the superior lithium undertaking situated within the Kaustinen area of Finland, which intends to be one of many first built-in operations in Europe to sustainably produce battery-grade lithium hydroxide utilizing its personal ore. In addition, Metso Outotec will present key processes for Keliber’s concentrator plant, which will probably be situated on the border of Kaustinen and Kronoby municipalities in Finland.

Following the approval for the Keliber lithium undertaking by Sibanye-Stillwater’s board, as introduced on November 28, 2022, the primary and largest know-how contract has now been signed. The mixed order worth is roughly €120 million ($128 million), of which roughly €80 million is dedicated for the Kokkola lithium hydroxide refinery. The deliberate manufacturing of the lithium hydroxide refinery is 15,000 t/y of lithium hydroxide monohydrate.

Metso Outotec’s scope of supply consists of the engineering and provide of many of the gear for the lithium hydroxide refinery, in addition to set up and commissioning providers and coaching. For the concentrator plant, Metso Outotec’s scope of supply consists of engineering and provide of all the principle gear.

Hannu Hautala, CEO of Keliber, mentioned: “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.”

Metso Outotec has developed lithium hard-rock-related applied sciences for some 20 years, and collaboration with Keliber began already within the early 2000s.

Heikki Pekkarinen, Chief Project Officer, mentioned: “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.”

Markku Teräsvasara, President of the Minerals enterprise space at Metso Outotec, mentioned: “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.”