PROCESSING

Keliber plans greener water process for Kokkola lithium plant

Finland’s Keliber plans to use an electrochemical water treatment system at its planned Kokkola plant that the company says is less energy-intensive.

 A new environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedure report has been prepared

A new environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedure report has been prepared

Keliber said that a new environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedure report has been prepared that details the changed plans.

The company said its plans to dispose of effluent from the lithium chemical plant process through evaporation could be replaced with an electrochemical water treatment (EWT) process followed by dissolved air flotation (DAF).

Treated water will now be discharged from the plant along a transfer pipeline to the Kokkola municipal wastewater treatment plant, Hopeakivenlahti, where the chemical plant's water will account for approximately 4% of all incoming wastewater.

Effluent from the chemical plant contains small amounts of lithium, but when mixed with other water, the lithium content of the effluent (approximately 9 mg/l) will be below the limit value set for wastewater treatment plants (22.94 mg/l).

The company is also changing its plans for treatment of Analcime sand, another chemical by-product, which will now be used to strengthen the structure of Kokkola port.

According to the updated plan, the analcime sand will be slurried at the chemical plant with seawater. The resulting sludge will be transferred along a transfer pipeline to the Port of Kokkola, where it will be used for backfilling structures of the harbour extension.

Keliber in March signed an engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) deal with Swedish engineering consultancy Sweco for Keliber's lithium project in central Ostrobothnia, Finland.

Sweco will partner with Keliber on the development plans for lithium mine sites and a concentrator plant in Kaustinen, Kokkola and Kruunupyy, and a lithium hydroxide plant in Kokkola.

Keliber said the construction phase of the project is expected to start in 2022, with first production in 2024. 

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Magazine Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Magazine Intelligence team.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Exploration Report 2024 (feat. Opaxe data)

A comprehensive review of exploration trends and technologies, highlighting the best intercepts and discoveries and the latest initial resource estimates.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Future Fleets Report 2024

The report paints a picture of the equipment landscape and includes detailed profiles of mines that are employing these fleets

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Digitalisation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations that use digitalisation technology to drive improvements across all areas of mining production

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Automation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations using autonomous solutions in every region and sector, including analysis of the factors driving investment decisions