MINEX Forum

Tag: Metso

  • Metso Partners with GTK to Develop New Pilot Plant for Minerals Processing in Finland

    Metso Partners with GTK to Develop New Pilot Plant for Minerals Processing in Finland

    Metso, a leading industrial machinery and engineering company, has entered into a significant agreement with the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) to engineer and deliver process technology for GTK Mintec’s new pilot plant located in Outokumpu, Finland. This pilot plant is set to enhance GTK’s research and service offerings for the mining and minerals industry, particularly in the realm of circular economy materials.

    The collaboration between Metso and GTK has been characterised by a long-standing partnership, with the design of the process lines being developed in close cooperation with GTK experts. While the financial details of the order remain undisclosed, it has been recorded in the Minerals segment’s orders for the third quarter of 2026. GTK Mintec aims to have the pilot plant operational by the end of 2028, reinforcing its position as a prominent developer of circular economy and minerals processing solutions on an international scale.

    Saku Vuori, the director-general of GTK, highlighted the importance of this initiative, stating that GTK Mintec is a strategic focus for the organisation. He emphasised that the minerals processing research services are crucial for advancing the circular economy, and this agreement marks a significant advancement in enhancing the services provided to the industry.

    Piia Karhu, president of Metso minerals, echoed these sentiments, noting that the new pilot plant builds upon decades of collaboration between the two entities in developing minerals processing solutions. The facility will serve as an excellent environment for the development and testing of innovative processing and circular economy solutions, aimed at improving resource and energy efficiency within the industry.

    The pilot plant will feature modern facilities for pilot-scale testing and optimisation of various process technologies. It will not only accommodate conventional beneficiation technologies but also focus on energy-efficient solutions that minimise water and chemical consumption. Key technologies to be tested include high pressure grinding rolls, ore sorting, primary grinding circuits, fine grinding technologies, and flotation applications.

    Moreover, the facility will enable the piloting of advanced solutions for side-stream processing, dry stacking of tailings, and closed-loop process water circuits, utilising cutting-edge water treatment and filtration technologies. Metso has confirmed that two process lines with varying capacities will be constructed, allowing for both large-scale plant testing and smaller-scale test work, such as studies using drill core samples in the early stages of mining projects.

    An advanced digitalisation and automation environment will also be integrated into the pilot plant, where process data will be automatically collected from equipment and measurement points throughout the facility. This innovation is expected to expedite the analysis of test results, enhance data quality, and provide customers with more comprehensive reporting capabilities, ultimately supporting the industry’s goals for sustainable and efficient mineral processing.

  • Finnvera Issues Letter of Interest for €100M Avalon Lithium Processing Facility in Ontario

    Finnvera Issues Letter of Interest for €100M Avalon Lithium Processing Facility in Ontario

    Finnish export credit agency Finnvera has issued a nonbinding letter of interest regarding potential financing for equipment and services to be supplied to Avalon Advanced Materials’ proposed Lake Superior lithium processing facility in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. The letter follows an application by Metso, a Finland-based provider of sustainable technologies for minerals processing, relating to an anticipated commercial contract valued at approximately €100 million.  Finnvera confirmed sufficient Finnish interest to consider supporting the contract through an export credit financing structure. Subject to due diligence and credit approval, Finnvera may provide a buyer credit guarantee for an eligible arranging commercial bank, with its subsidiary Finnish Export Credit potentially acting as lender.

    Avalon President and CEO Scott Monteith called the letter an important initial milestone in developing a comprehensive financing strategy for the facility, noting that Metso’s global recognition and potential Finnish export credit support provide a credible pathway to finance a significant equipment package while advancing a secure North American lithium supply chain. Under Finnvera’s framework, an export credit may finance up to 85% of eligible Finnish goods and services, along with certain local costs and capitalized interest. Avalon CFO Lorin Crenshaw emphasized that this development enhances the company’s ability to pursue an integrated financing structure combining export credit support with Canadian and US government programs, commercial project debt, strategic investment, and offtake-related financing. The company aims to minimize blended cost of capital by maximizing institutional and project-level financing while reducing reliance on parent-level equity. Avalon will work with Metso and Finnvera to define the eligible equipment package and financing process. A 2024 preliminary economic assessment outlines the use of Metso proprietary technologies including calcination, pressure leaching, conversion, purification through ion exchange, and crystallization to produce high-quality lithium hydroxide monohydrate. The plant is expected to produce approximately 30,000 tonnes per year of battery-grade LHM.

  • Metso Launches Cu POX Leaching Solution to Revolutionize Copper Sulphide Processing

    Metso Launches Cu POX Leaching Solution to Revolutionize Copper Sulphide Processing

    Metso has unveiled its groundbreaking Cu POX leaching solution, a cutting-edge hydrometallurgical process designed to enhance copper sulphide leaching efficiency while prioritizing environmental sustainability. This innovative technology addresses the growing challenges of changing ore compositions and depleting deposits, offering a scalable and flexible solution for the mining industry.

    At the heart of the process is Metso’s proprietary OKTOP Autoclave unit, which oxidizes copper concentrate under high pressure and temperature. This generates a copper-bearing pregnant leach solution (PLS), which is further processed through solvent extraction and electrowinning (SX-EW) to produce high-purity LME Grade A copper cathodes.

    Petteri Pesonen, Metso’s Copper Hydrometallurgy Technology Manager, explained, “The Cu POX leaching process uses high-temperature oxidation to convert sulphide sulphur into sulphate and sulphuric acid, ensuring efficient copper dissolution with recovery rates of up to 99%. It also minimizes environmental impact by reducing emissions and optimizing resource use, such as through closed-loop water systems.”

    The technology is designed to integrate seamlessly with existing SX-EW infrastructure and can enhance heap leaching operations by supplementing PLS production as resources diminish. Metso provides comprehensive support, from batch testing and pilot trials to plant commissioning and training, ensuring a smooth implementation process.

    In a related development, Metso secured a contract with Barrick Gold in September 2024 to supply key process equipment for the Lumwana copper project in Zambia, further solidifying its position as a leader in copper processing innovation.

  • Ukrainian Mining Company BGV Group Showcases Potential in Davos

    Ukrainian Mining Company BGV Group Showcases Potential in Davos

    BGV Group Management made a significant impact at the Ukrainian House in Davos during the World Economic Forum’s unofficial program. The team participated in a panel discussion titled “Ukraine: A country with mineral reserves worth $12 trillion.” The panel featured key representatives from the Ukrainian Ministry of Economy, global consulting firms, and American businesses, highlighting the strategic importance of Ukraine’s mineral wealth.

    BGV Group Management, a prominent player in Ukraine’s critical materials mining sector for nearly a decade, shared their ambitious plans to enter the international critical raw materials (CRM) market. Sergii Voitsekhovskyi, a member of BGV Group Management’s board of directors, emphasized their focus on graphite and beryllium.

    The company provided updates on their flagship graphite mining project, BGV Graphite, based on the Balakhivske deposit. By early 2025, they completed the preliminary feasibility study (PFS) and pilot technological tests for the final product. Rozvytok Pobuzhzhia, part of the BGV Group, has been working with Metso (Finland) on basic engineering for an enrichment plant. The design for a mining and enrichment complex is underway, with construction set to begin in the first quarter of 2026. The graphite concentrate from the Balakhiv deposit boasts a high carbon content of 97%, compared to the standard 95%. In 2024, tests for further graphite purification to a battery-grade quality of 99.99% and production of spherical graphite (SPG) were completed, in collaboration with German partner ANZAPLAN. Testing confirmed the high quality of the anode material for lithium-ion batteries.

    In 2025, BGV Group Management will start designing the SPG production plant. Voitsekhovskyi also provided updates on the beryllium mining project, BGV Beryllium. The company has conducted verification drilling and research, initiating a preliminary feasibility study in 2024. They highlighted the potential for mining valuable associated minerals like zinc, rare earth elements, and rare metal elements.

    “Ukraine is a country of new opportunities. We have 22 out of 50 strategic materials identified by the US as critically important, as well as 25 out of 34 recognized as critical in the EU. Our country is a country of highly qualified professionals with significant practical experience, scientifically based approaches, advantageous logistics, support for CRM projects at the government and community levels, as well as sustainable, responsible, and motivated businesses that, despite the war, remain in Ukraine, investing in mining and other projects. The future of the global economy and the advancement of international security are already unfolding, and Ukraine plays a crucial role in this process. Specifically, Ukraine possesses all the prerequisites to greatly enhance the international mining sector and become a reliable partner in the field of critical raw materials (CRM),” Voitsehovskyi stated.

    BGV Group Management presented the Ukrainian House in Davos with a symbolic gift—a sample of graphite ore sourced during geological research at the Balakhivske deposit in the Kirovohrad region. This gift symbolizes the potential and ongoing efforts in CRM projects, showcasing the company’s commitment to development despite the ongoing conflict.

  • Metso Observes Growth in Performance-Based Maintenance Contracts

    Metso Observes Growth in Performance-Based Maintenance Contracts

    Metso reports a growing trend in performance-based maintenance contracts as it continues to establish itself as a reliable provider of customized solutions for mining and aggregates clients. In 2024, the company secured over 100 new Life Cycle Services (LCS) contracts with both global and regional mining companies, as well as large quarries and aggregate contractors.

    Customers are increasingly recognizing the value of having performance-based contracts, which offer technical expertise and support on-site. In 2023, Metso secured more than 110 new LCS contracts with global and regional mining companies and sizeable quarries and aggregate contractors.

    Metso’s Senior Vice President, Integrated Service Solutions, Miika Tirkkonen, stated that the company made progress in transforming its contract portfolio mix by adding more performance-based agreements in 2024. These agreements, which include mutually agreed targets with customers and commercial models that promote win-win partnerships, saw over 40% growth in 2024. Having Metso’s field service experts work alongside the customer’s personnel on-site also enhances their skills and promotes safer working methods.

    The LCS agreements signed in 2024 are part of a portfolio of more than 550 long-term LCS agreements globally, with an average duration of three years. The orders are booked on a phased basis, depending on the length and type of the agreement. The specific financial details of the signed agreements are not disclosed. More than two-thirds of the orders were booked in the Minerals segment and the remaining orders were booked in the Aggregates segment.

    Metso’s Life Cycle Services encompass the complete range of its aftermarket portfolio, including spares and wears, advanced maintenance, remote monitoring, and other expert services. The company has been offering innovative Life Cycle Services for over 15 years, assisting customers in enhancing safety and environmental standards, boosting reliability and production for greater resource efficiency, and optimizing the overall cost of ownership.

  • Metso expands into Finland

    Metso expands into Finland

    Metso has modernised its pilot facility at Metso Research Center in Pori, Finland, with expanded capabilities for lithium hydroxide (LiOH) and other battery chemicals process testing. The unique pilot line serves mining and battery industry customers processing battery minerals. In connection with the expansion, Metso has also opened a battery materials precursor (pCAM) pilot plant, available now for customer trials.

    “Pilot run requests for battery minerals like lithium, nickel and cobalt have increased significantly during the last three years. Currently, we are working on several battery black mass recycling and precursor projects and have several lithium and other battery chemicals project pilots on our laboratory schedule,” says Janne Karonen, Director for Hydrometallurgical Research & Development at Metso.

    Process simulations are essential in the piloting phase, supporting process and equipment design, training and plant operation. For this purpose, Metso uses its unique metallurgical digital twin Geminex, which is based on the company’s proprietary HSC-Sim software for predictive process simulations. Pilot plant and real-time plant data enrich the simulation model to accurately predict plant behavior.

    Metso has developed sustainable hard rock lithium soda leaching technologies for 20 years already. The pilot facility expansion it says “complements Metso’s frontrunning piloting capabilities for minerals processing and metals refining, enabling minerals and battery industry customers to have end-to-end testing, piloting services and technology and equipment deliveries from one supplier.”

    Metso’s expertise in battery minerals covers the extraction of lithium from brines and pegmatite ores up to battery-grade lithium salts. These patented processes are designed to meet the needs for high-end lithium-ion battery chemicals production. Metso can provide sustainable technology and equipment for the entire lithium, nickel and cobalt production chain – from the mine to battery materials and black mass recycling – with project scopes ranging from equipment packages to plant deliveries.