MINEX Forum

Tag: Sibanye-Stillwater

  • Sibanye-Stillwater’s Keliber Lithium Project Achieves Key Operational Milestones in Finland

    Sibanye-Stillwater’s Keliber Lithium Project Achieves Key Operational Milestones in Finland

    Sibanye-Stillwater’s Keliber lithium project in Finland is making significant strides in its operational ramp-up, marking a pivotal moment in the company’s efforts to enhance lithium production. Following the successful commencement of the Syväjärvi open-pit mine earlier in 2026, the project has now seen the Päiväneva concentrator achieve an impressive 142 hours of continuous testing. This phase is crucial as it aims to safely scale up the production of high-quality spodumene concentrate, a key material in the lithium battery supply chain.

    The ongoing infrastructure development at the Kokkola Industrial Park lithium refinery is also noteworthy. The area has been recently asphalted, signalling progress as teams undertake essential preparatory work to initiate production. This development is expected to bolster the overall efficiency and output of the Keliber project, which is strategically positioned to meet the growing demand for lithium in electric vehicle batteries and other applications.

    Sibanye-Stillwater has made it a priority to keep stakeholders informed about the project’s progress. Interested parties can view the rapid advancements and layout of the facilities through the official project updates available on the Sibanye-Stillwater Keliber Video Gallery. Additionally, the construction timeline is accessible via the Keliber Project Progress Playlist on YouTube, providing a visual representation of the project’s evolution.

  • Europe’s First Full-Cycle Lithium Project Completes Construction in Finland as €783 Million Keliber Facility Prepares for Production

    Europe’s First Full-Cycle Lithium Project Completes Construction in Finland as €783 Million Keliber Facility Prepares for Production

    Finland has become the first European country to complete construction of a full-cycle battery-grade lithium project, with Keliber Oy’s €783 million ($922 million) facility in Syväjärvi in western Finland ready to begin production in the second quarter of 2026 and ramp to full output by 2028 — a landmark moment for a continent that currently imports 100% of its refined lithium, almost entirely from China.

    The Keliber project will produce battery-grade lithium hydroxide from domestically mined ore, with the entire supply chain — from mine to concentrator to refinery — contained within a 43-kilometre radius. At full capacity, the Kokkola refinery will produce approximately 15,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide annually for at least 18 years, equivalent to around 10% of Europe’s current demand. Keliber Oy is 80% owned by South African mining major Sibanye-Stillwater, with the remaining 20% held by the Finnish state through Finnish Minerals Group.

    An additional €200 million ($235 million) has been committed by the Finnish government and Sibanye-Stillwater to support project ramp-up, while the European Investment Bank has contributed €150 million ($177 million) in financing. The project has been designated a Strategic Project under the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act.

    Finnish Minister of Economic Affairs Sakari Puisto described the project as a key component of Finland’s National Battery Strategy that increases the country’s and the EU’s self-sufficiency in critical raw materials. Keliber CEO Hannu Hautala said the facility would help Europe reduce dependence on imports from Asian countries and Australia, with lithium hydroxide output destined for the European battery industry.

    The project spans more than 500 square kilometres with six additional mining sites planned in the area. Europe currently relies on foreign sources for approximately 81% of extracted lithium and 100% of refined lithium, with EU demand projected to grow twelve-fold by 2030 and twenty-one-fold by 2050.

  • Sibanye Stillwater Reaffirms Battery Metals Strategy Despite Keliber Impairment

    Sibanye Stillwater Reaffirms Battery Metals Strategy Despite Keliber Impairment

    South African mining group Sibanye Stillwater remains committed to its battery metals strategy despite recording an additional 2.46 billion rand ($152.6 million) impairment on its Keliber lithium project in Finland, CEO Richard Stewart said during a results call.

    The company, which began in 2013 with three gold mines before expanding into platinum group metals, has in recent years diversified into lithium, nickel and zinc as part of a strategic shift toward metals used in renewable energy and decarbonization technologies.

    In 2025, Sibanye booked total impairments of 7.8 billion rand on Keliber, reflecting a weaker long-term price outlook for lithium hydroxide. The asset is currently valued at approximately 9 billion rand. Earlier in February 2025, the company also withdrew plans to invest in the Rhyolite Ridge lithium project in the United States after lithium prices declined sharply.

    Stewart said the group’s long-term strategy remains focused on supplying critical metals that support the global energy transition. At Keliber, Sibanye has opted for a phased production approach, beginning with spodumene concentrate while deferring potential production of battery-grade lithium hydroxide until market conditions improve.

    He added that policy initiatives by the European Union and the United States to reduce reliance on Chinese battery metals could improve the long-term pricing environment for projects such as Keliber.

    Financially, Sibanye reported headline earnings of 2.44 rand per share in 2025, compared with 0.64 rand the previous year. The improvement was driven by stronger commodity prices, including a 39% increase in the average rand gold price and a 28% rise in the average South African platinum group metals basket price.

    The stronger performance enabled the diversified miner to declare its first dividend since 2023.

  • Sibanye-Stillwater completes assessment of Keliber lithium project, confirms staged start-up plan

    Sibanye-Stillwater completes assessment of Keliber lithium project, confirms staged start-up plan

    Sibanye-Stillwater has completed a multidisciplinary assessment of its Keliber lithium project in Finland, confirming the project’s technical readiness and outlining a staged approach to commissioning amid current market conditions.

    The Keliber project is regarded as the European Union’s most advanced fully integrated lithium development, with planned production of around 15,000 tonnes per year of battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate over a mine life exceeding 18 years. It is also one of the few lithium hydroxide refineries outside China and has been designated a strategic project under the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act, reflecting its importance to the bloc’s battery supply chain.

    According to Sibanye-Stillwater, construction of the fully integrated mine, concentrator and refinery remains on track, with completion of the construction phase and cold commissioning expected in the first quarter of 2026. The total capital investment required to complete construction is estimated at approximately €783 million.

    Following the assessment, Sibanye-Stillwater and its strategic partner, Finnish Minerals Group, have agreed that a staged start-up represents the most prudent path forward. Under this approach, initial commissioning will focus on achieving operational readiness at the mining and concentrating stages before determining the timing for commissioning the refinery.

    The company said this phased strategy is intended to reduce ramp-up risks while preserving financial flexibility, allowing certain capital expenditures and refining ramp-up costs to be deferred depending on lithium market conditions. Finnish Minerals Group is preparing to contribute additional funding on a pro rata basis in line with its 20% equity stake to support the project through the ramp-up period.

    Sibanye-Stillwater CEO Richard Stewart said the agreed approach balances technical readiness with market realities, ensuring the project advances in a responsible and commercially disciplined manner while remaining positioned to supply locally produced lithium into the EU battery value chain.

  • Sibanye-Stillwater Explores New Caledonia’s Prony Resources for Nickel Supply

    Sibanye-Stillwater Explores New Caledonia’s Prony Resources for Nickel Supply

    Sibanye-Stillwater, a Johannesburg-based precious metals producer, is exploring New Caledonia’s Prony Resources as a potential supplier of nickel for its battery-grade material production at the Sandouville plant in France. The company is also considering Indonesia as another source for mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP), a crucial material for electric vehicle batteries.

    Prony Resources, which operates a nickel mine and hydrometallurgical processing plant, has been seeking investors amid its struggles. However, Sibanye’s spokesperson, James Wellsted, clarified on Tuesday that the company is not looking for acquisitions but is focused on securing feedstock for its planned Sandouville conversion. The project aims to shift the plant towards processing battery-grade nickel as part of the company’s push into green energy.

    A team from Sibanye is currently in New Caledonia to evaluate Prony as a supplier, especially given Prony’s existing contract with Tesla to supply MHP for electric vehicle batteries. Meanwhile, local media reports suggest advanced talks between Sibanye and Prony, though Sibanye has yet to confirm any formal acquisition discussions.

    New Caledonia’s nickel sector has faced significant challenges this year, with operations halted at Prony since May due to unrest in the French-controlled territory. Prony declined to comment on the situation.