Sweco was recently chosen as the provider of EPCM (engineering, procurement and construction management) services for Keliber’s lithium project in Central Ostrobothnia, Finland.

“It’s a highly important assignment for us at Sweco to partner with Keliber in this large-scale battery industry project. We’ve already been cooperating for several years and Sweco has supported Keliber in being at the forefront of developing chemicals for batteries. This project supports the transformation towards sustainable transportation, and represents Nordic expertise at its best,” says Erik Skogström, Managing Director of Sweco Industry in Finland.

The planned Keliber operations include lithium mine sites and a concentrator plant in Kaustinen, Kokkola and Kruunupyy, and a lithium hydroxide plant in Kokkola. More than 100 experts at Sweco will be involved in the project. The construction phase of the project is expected to start in 2022 and the production in 2024. At its height during construction, the project will employ up to 500 people. The production of lithium hydroxide is expected to start in 2024.

“We selected an experienced EPCM partner with a proven track record of similar large projects, which they have executed responsibly and safely. Our goal is to contribute to the global efforts of mitigating climate change as a responsible producer of battery chemicals,” says Hannu Hautala, CEO of Keliber.

The project is one of the most significant battery chemical projects in Europe and is part of Finland’s national battery strategy. In addition to Keliber’s project, Sweco has also been assigned in recent years by Terrafame and Northvolt, to develop sustainable battery industry.