Environmental Permit Granted for Keliber's Lithium Chemical Plant

Environmental Permit Granted for Keliber's Lithium Chemical Plant The Regional State Administrative Agency for Western and Central Finland (AVI) granted an environmental permit for Keliber's lithium chemical plant on 28 June 2022. The facility will be constructed in Kokkola Industrial Park (KIP). The environmental permit decision includes the right to commence operations despite final objections, meaning Keliber can begin preparations for the operational phase immediately under the permit conditions. Construction of the lithium chemical plant is scheduled to begin this summer, with the facility expected to start production in 2024. Keliber will produce battery-grade lithium hydroxide, among other products, required in lithium ion batteries for electric vehicles. Keliber CEO Hannu Hautala said that when Keliber's product is brought to market, it is expected to be lithium hydroxide. "When Keliber's product is brought to market, lithium hydroxide is expected to be in short supply due to the ongoing green transition, which will greatly increase demand for lithium ion batteries," he stated. The planned annual production of the lithium chemical plant is 15,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide monohydrate. Its primary raw material is spodumene concentrate that Keliber will produce from its own ore in the Päiväneva region of Kaustinen. Alternatively, Keliber can purchase spodumene concentrate from external suppliers. Keliber's lithium hydroxide production is based on soda leach technology that benefits from material and energy efficiency. Circulated process water comprises approximately 80% of the facility's total process water consumption. Analcime sand, a by-product stream generated in the process, can be used in construction, particularly in the expansion of Kokkola Port. The lithium chemical plant facility comprises several buildings with a total surface area exceeding 18,000 square metres. The construction phase will directly employ approximately 250 people; following the transition to continuous production, approximately 75 people will work at the factory site. Keliber submitted its environmental permit application to AVI on 4 December 2020. The permit is not yet legally valid. The building permit for the facility was issued by Kokkola Municipality on 27 April 2022. Source