Rejlers has signed an agreement with Sibanye-Stillwater?s Keliber lithium project. The agreement includes basic and detail engineering services for the effluent treatment plant of the Keliber lithium refinery. This large-scale investment aims to develop a sustainable operation to produce battery-grade lithium hydroxide.

The Keliber lithium refinery will be built in Kokkola in Central Ostrobothnia with the aim of being the first European producer of battery-grade lithium hydroxide from its own mined ore reserves. Lithium is an essential part of storing electrical energy, including batteries for electric vehicle. The total investment in the Keliber lithium project is estimated to be EUR 656 million.

Construction of the refinery began in March 2023 and the ramp-up of production is scheduled to start in 2025. Keliber?s lithium hydroxide production is based on soda leaching technology, which benefits from material and energy efficiency. Energy sources will be steam, natural gas and electricity, which contributes to Keliber?s relatively low CO2 emissions in comparison with current lithium hydroxide production chains.

Rejlers has decades of experience in implementing demanding water treatment plants.