Environmental Permit Granted for Keliber’s Lithium Chemical Plant
The environmental permit for Keliber's lithium chemical plant was granted by the Regional State Administrative Agency for Western and Inland Finland (AVI) on June 28, 2022. The plant will be constructed in the Kokkola Industrial Park (KIP).
The environmental permit decision includes a right to begin operations despite any subsequent appeals, which means that Keliber can begin preparations for the operational phase immediately under the permit's terms.
The construction of the lithium chemical plant is set to begin this summer, with production beginning in 2024. Keliber will manufacture battery-grade lithium hydroxide, which will be used in electric vehicle lithium-ion batteries, among other things.
"The environmental permit for the plant and the right to start operations is good news for us and our customers, as the permit makes it possible for the project to continue within the planned timeframe. When Keliber's product is launched, lithium hydroxide is expected to be in short supply, due to the ongoing green transition that will greatly increase the demand for lithium-ion batteries,” says Hannu Hautala, CEO of Keliber.
The lithium chemical plant's annual production capacity is 15,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide monohydrate. Its primary raw material is spodumene concentrate, which Keliber will produce from its own ore in Kaustinen's Päiväneva area. Keliber may also obtain spodumene concentrate from third-party suppliers.
Keliber’s lithium hydroxide production is based on soda leaching technology, which benefits from material and energy efficiency. Circulated process water accounts for about 80% of the plant's total process water consumption. The side stream created in the process, analcime sand, is usable in construction, primarily in the expansion of the Port of Kokkola.
The lithium chemical plant entity consists of several buildings with a total surface area of more than 18,000 square meters. The construction phase will directly employ about 250 people; after the start of continuous production, about 75 people will work in the plant area.
Keliber submitted the environmental permit application to AVI on 4 December 2020. The permit is not yet legally valid. The building permit for the plant was granted by the City of Kokkola on 27 April 2022.
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