Keliber has chosen Sweco as the EPCM consultant for the lithium project in Central Ostrobothnia, Finland. Sweco will be responsible for the engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) of the project.

The planned Keliber operations include lithium mine sites and a concentrator plant in Kaustinen, Kokkola and Kruunupyy, and a lithium hydroxide plant in Kokkola. The construction phase of the project is expected to start in 2022 and the production in 2024. At its height during construction, the project will employ up to 500 people.

"We selected an experienced EPCM partner with a proven track record of similar large-scale projects, which they have executed responsibly and safely. We are happy to proceed from design and engineering to completing construction with such a strong partner as Sweco", says Heikki Pekkarinen, Chief Project Officer of Keliber.

"Thanks to an experienced EPCM partner as well as to the recently announced bridge financing of 40 million euros, we are able to advance the lithium project as planned. Our goal is to share value through jobs and tax income while contributing to the global efforts of mitigating the climate change as a responsible producer of battery chemicals", comments Hannu Hautala, CEO of Keliber.

"It’s a highly important assignment for us at Sweco to partner with Keliber in this large-scale battery industry project. We’ve already been cooperating for several years and Sweco has supported Keliber in being at the forefront of developing chemicals for batteries. This project supports the transformation towards sustainable transportation, and represents Nordic expertise at its best”, says Erik Skogström, Managing Director of Sweco Industry.

Keliber’s goal is to be the first European company producing sustainable, battery-grade lithium hydroxide from own ore in 2024, when the demand for lithium is expected to surge as a result of increasing digitalization and electrification of transportation.