Nornickel expands environmentally friendly Harjavalta plant production
Published by Jessica Casey,
Editor
Global Mining Review,
PJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel, one of the world's largest producers of palladium and high-grade nickel, as well as one of the largest producers of platinum and copper, has announced plans to gradually expand production at a modern refinery in Finland. Nornickel Harjavalta operates primarily on renewable energy sources and is a world leader in the hydro-metallurgical production of high purity nickel and also has the widest range of nickel products in Europe.
NN Harjavalta's capacity increase meets the European market demand for battery raw materials produced in a sustainable manner and with a low carbon footprint.
This step of Norilsk Nickel fits into the group's strategy to ensure a global movement towards a green economy while strictly adhering to the principles of sustainable development.
Yoni Hautojärvi, Managing Director, Nornickel Harjavalta: “This expansion will further strengthen Harjavalta's position as one of the most sustainable nickel and cobalt producers for the electric vehicle (EV) battery market. Our unique product portfolio, coupled with advances in metal recycling technology, makes Nornickel Harjavalta a leading European supplier of key metallurgical products for the growing battery sector in Europe."
Nickel output at NN Harjavalta in the first expansion phase will grow from the current level of 65 000 tpy to 75 000 tpy in 2023 and in the second phase to over 100 000 tpy by early 2026.
The plant meets the strictest EU requirements for environmental friendliness and production responsibility, it uses recycling technologies up to 90% of waste and offers products with one of the lowest carbon footprints on the market.
NN Harjavalta produces nickel in cathodes, briquettes, crystallised salts and solutions, cobalt in crystallised sulfate and in solution. The production process is based on sulfuric acid leaching of nickel semi-finished products, a modern high-tech approach that allows to extract more than 98% of the metal in processing and obtain optimal raw materials for the production of battery-grade nickel and cobalt.
NN Harjavalta strictly monitors the minimum environmental impact of its activities and has been actively involved in research at the Finnish Forest Research Institute (Metla) for several decades.
Norilsk Nickel is a member of the European Battery Alliance (EBA) and the international Responsible Sourcing Blockchain Network (RSBN).
Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/environment-sustainability/13042021/nornickel-expands-environmentally-friendly-harjavalta-plant-production/
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