MINEX Forum

Tag: Keliber

  • Finland Launches First Lithium Mine to Boost Europe’s Battery Supply Chain

    Finland Launches First Lithium Mine to Boost Europe’s Battery Supply Chain

    Finland has officially opened its first lithium mine, marking a milestone in Europe’s push to secure domestic battery raw materials and reduce reliance on imports.

    Mining company Keliber has begun lithium extraction in western Finland, initiating what is described as Europe’s first integrated battery-grade lithium production chain. According to Finnish broadcaster Yle, the project is designed not only to mine lithium ore but also to process it into battery-grade lithium chemicals within Europe.

    CEO Hannu Hautala said the operation gives Europe a strategic advantage by shortening supply routes compared to shipments from China. The company expects that local production will strengthen Europe’s battery manufacturing ecosystem, particularly as electric vehicle demand continues to grow.

    The project spans three municipalities — Kaustinen, Kokkola and Kronoby — forming a regional industrial cluster that links mining operations with processing facilities. The lithium concentrate will be refined into battery-grade material at a dedicated plant in Kokkola.

    The launch comes amid intensifying efforts across the European Union to develop domestic sources of critical minerals essential for electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies. By establishing a local lithium supply chain, Finland aims to position itself as a key contributor to Europe’s broader energy transition and industrial resilience strategy.

  • European Energy Metals Expands Exploration in Finland, Targeting Lithium-Rich Pegmatites

    European Energy Metals Expands Exploration in Finland, Targeting Lithium-Rich Pegmatites

    European Energy Metals (TSXV: FIN) has announced a significant expansion of its exploration efforts in Finland, applying for five new exploration licences (ELs) in the Kaustinen region. The applications cover an area of approximately 102 square kilometers, known for its high potential for lithium-cesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatites. This expansion will increase the company’s total licensed holdings to 157.7 square kilometers, augmenting its existing Nabba and Nabba 2 licences.

    These newly applied licences are largely contiguous with those held by Sibanye-Stillwater at the Keliber project, which is renowned for its LCT spodumene-pegmatite deposits. Keliber’s resources are estimated at approximately 17 million tonnes, with a grade of 1% Li2O (lithium oxide). Sibanye-Stillwater, a South African mining group, is investing up to €600 million in partnership with the Finnish Minerals Group to build a comprehensive lithium supply chain complex in the area, with production expected to commence in the second half of 2025.

    European Energy Metals’ newly expanded concessions are strategically located within 1 kilometer of some of the known lithium-rich spodumene-pegmatite deposits at Keliber and Sibanye’s proposed spodumene concentrator plant. The company is currently conducting a field program on these concessions, following up on its successful 2023 exploration program. During that program, the team discovered multiple occurrences of lithium-bearing pegmatite mineralization, particularly at the Kyrola prospect, where rock chip grab samples returned assays of up to 3.84% Li2O.

    CEO Jeremy Poirier expressed optimism about the expanded exploration efforts, stating that the additional licences would allow for more thorough testing and definition of the subsurface mineralization identified on the surface. The 2024 exploration program is designed to advance these projects to a drill definition stage, with a focus on areas with significant proximity to known deposits and the soon-to-be operational lithium concentrator.