Finland’s Metso Outotec has won €120 million of plant and equipment orders for Keliber’s proposed €588m lithium hydroxide project in the country.
Keliber, controlled by South Africa’s Sibanye-Stillwater, aims to produce 15,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate per year from a refinery at Kokkola. It plans to produce hard-rock lithium from four openpit and three underground mines in the Kaustinen, Kokkola and Kronoby municipalities, supplying ore a concentrator at Paivaneva. That facility will feed the Kokkola refinery.
Metso Outotec says it will deliver proprietary soda pressure leaching technology for the refinery.
It will also provide “key processes” for the concentrator in Kaustinen.
“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,” the manufacturer said.
“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 with 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.”
Meanwhile, Metso Outotec’s board has agreed to extend CEO Pekka Vauramo’s contract for an additional year to the end of 2024. Vauramo started in the role in November 2018.
“Following the merger of Metso Minerals and Outotec, Metso Outotec has executed its strategy successfully and the company is well positioned for future growth. In the prevailing uncertain global environment, it is appropriate that there is continuity in the leadership and that Pekka Vauramo’s contract as president and CEO is extended,” said Kari Stadigh, Metso Outotec chair.
