Swedish state-owned mining firm LKAB has recognized greater than 1 million tonnes of uncommon earth oxides within the Kiruna space within the far north of the nation, the most important uncommon earth metals deposit in Europe.
Uncommon earth minerals are important for, amongst different purposes, the manufacture of electrical automobiles and wind generators.
“That is excellent news, not just for LKAB, the area and the Swedish folks, but in addition for Europe and the local weather. That is the most important identified deposit of uncommon earth components in our a part of the world, and it may develop into a big constructing block for producing the essential uncooked supplies which can be completely essential to allow the inexperienced transition. We face a provide downside. With out mines, there might be no electrical automobiles,” says Jan Moström, President and Group CEO, LKAB.
No uncommon earth components are presently mined in Europe, on the similar time, demand is anticipated to extend dramatically because of electrification, which can result in a world undersupply, and this at a time of accelerating geopolitical tensions. In keeping with the European Fee’s evaluation, the demand for uncommon earth elements for electrical automobiles and wind generators, amongst others, is anticipated to extend greater than fivefold by 2030. At the moment, Europe can be depending on imports of those minerals, the place China utterly dominates the market, an element which will increase the vulnerability of European trade.
“Electrification, the EU’s self-sufficiency and independence from Russia and China will start within the mine. We have to strengthen industrial worth chains in Europe and create actual alternatives for the electrification of our societies. Politics should give the trade the circumstances to change to inexperienced and fossil-free manufacturing. Right here, the Swedish mining trade have so much to supply. The necessity for minerals to hold out the transition is nice, says Minister for Power, Enterprise and Business, Ebba Busch.”
A protracted highway to a mine
On the similar time, the highway to attainable mining of the deposit is lengthy, the place step one is an software for an exploitation concession for the Per Geijer deposit so as to have the ability to examine it additional at depth and examine the circumstances for mining. The plan is to have the ability to submit an software for an exploitation concession in 2023.
LKAB has already began to organize a drift, a number of kilometres lengthy, at a depth of roughly 700 metres within the present Kiruna mine in the direction of the brand new deposit so as to have the ability to examine it at depth and intimately.
“We’re already investing closely to maneuver ahead, and we anticipate that it’ll take a number of years to research the deposit and the circumstances for profitably and sustainably mining it. We’re humbled by the challenges surrounding land use and impacts that exist to develop this right into a mine and that may should be analysed to see methods to keep away from, decrease and compensate for it. Solely then can we proceed with an environmental evaluate software and apply for a allow,” says Jan Moström.
“If we take a look at how different allow processes have labored inside our trade, it is going to be at the least 10-15 years earlier than we are able to really start mining and ship uncooked supplies to the market. After which we’re speaking about Kiruna, the place LKAB has been mining ore for greater than 130 years. Right here, the European Fee’s give attention to this subject, to safe entry to essential supplies, and the Vital Uncooked Supplies Act the Fee is now engaged on, is decisive. We should change the allow processes to make sure elevated mining of the sort of uncooked materials in Europe. Entry is right now a vital threat issue for each the competitiveness of European trade and the local weather transition,” provides Jan Moström.
Per Geijer, potential to develop into Europe’s most essential mine for essential uncooked supplies
Promising outcomes from LKAB’s ongoing exploration in Kiruna and Gällivare have been offered final spring. The deposit Per Geijer is in shut proximity to present operations in Kiruna. Extra in depth research present a rise from 400 million tonnes of mineral assets with excessive iron content material to over 500 million tonnes, and that the Per Geijer deposit incorporates as much as seven instances the grade of phosphorus because the orebodies that LKAB mines in Kiruna right now. Phosphorus is considered one of three vitamins in mineral fertilisers crucial for meals manufacturing and is on the EU’s record of essential minerals.
LKAB studies a Mineral Useful resource and additional in depth research in Per Geijer of property amounting to a couple of million tonnes of uncommon earth metals within the type of Uncommon Earth Oxides, that are used to supply Uncommon Earth Parts (REE). This could be ample to satisfy a big a part of the EU’s future demand for manufacturing the permanent magnets which can be wanted for electrical motors in, amongst different issues, electric vehicles, and wind energy generators.
The outcomes are offered in accordance with the reporting normal PERC 2021, which is the prevailing worldwide normal for LKAB.
The uncommon earth components in Per Geijer happen along with phosphorus within the mineral apatite, in what is especially an iron ore deposit, and which can due to this fact be produced as by-products. It additionally creates utterly totally different alternatives for attainable aggressive mining.
“LKAB is already planning a round industrial park in Luleå with new know-how for the extraction and processing of phosphorus, uncommon earth components and fluorine based mostly on right now’s present mining manufacturing. There, as a substitute of landfilling the fabric, it may be used to create new, sustainable merchandise. A manufacturing begin is deliberate for 2027,” says Leif Boström, Senior Vice President, Enterprise Space Particular Merchandise, LKAB.
LKAB and demanding uncooked supplies
LKAB produces 80 p.c of Europe’s iron ore and, backed by a method for producing sponge iron utilizing hydrogen know-how, is main the transformation of the iron and metal trade. Because the Nineteen Eighties LKAB has additionally been lively within the industrial minerals sector through its Particular Merchandise division, which produces and processes greater than 30 minerals.
Since the1960s LKAB has diminished its carbon dioxide emissions per tonne completed product by 84 p.c and invests closely in analysis and growth to additional develop sustainable mining from a world-leading place. Precedence areas for additional strengthening our sustainability efficiency are strategies for creating added organic worth, institution of round enterprise fashions and continued efforts and measures in the direction of elevated local weather effectivity.
Phosphorus is considered one of three important vitamins added to mineral fertilisers utilized in agriculture. Roughly half of all world’s agricultural manufacturing relies on this. Europe is 90% depending on imports of phosphorus and Russia has accounted for a big share of phosphorus manufacturing.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the availability and costs of mineral fertiliser have develop into a significant downside, which can lead to excessive meals costs globally and meals shortages in poor international locations. Phosphorus is included on the EU’s record of essential uncooked supplies. All these uncooked supplies are very important for Europe’s trade and economic system, we’re import-dependent on them and there’s a nice threat for disruptions in provide associated, for instance, to geopolitical threat elements.
Uncommon earth components are additionally included on the record of essential uncooked supplies, none of that are mined in Europe. China dominates each mining and processing, whereas Europe is basically depending on uncommon earth components for manufacturing the everlasting magnets that are crucial for electrical automobiles and wind energy generators which can be important for the inexperienced transition.
The EU is right now just about import-dependent in terms of everlasting magnets with uncommon earth components, greater than 90 p.c of that are produced in China. As of 2035, gross sales of petrol and diesel automobiles can be prohibited. An electrical automobile requires six instances extra minerals {that a} typical car. With Per Geijer, LKAB has nice potential to contribute to rising the diploma of European Union self-sufficiency and sustaining Europe’s aggressive benefit inside the automobile trade.
The highly effective everlasting magnets utilized in electrical automobiles comprise the uncommon earth components neodymium and praseodymium; from 0.5 to a few kilos per automobile, relying on the dimensions of the motor and everlasting magnet.
Extraction and processing of phosphorus, uncommon earth components and fluorine are a part of LKAB’s ReeMAP venture. Right here, LKAB is growing know-how for extracting phosphorus and uncommon earth components as by-products from right now’s iron ore manufacturing and is planning a round industrial park in Luleå. At this processing stage LKAB plans to supply a focus that should subsequently be separated.
To satisfy the necessity each for extraction of uncooked supplies and to extend Europe’s processing capability LKAB has, as principal proprietor, not too long ago entered collaboration with Norwegian REEtec. They’ve developed an modern and sustainable know-how for separation of uncommon earth components that may compete with China’s dominating manufacturing of those supplies.
About LKAB
LKAB is a world mining and minerals group that gives sustainable iron ore, minerals, and particular merchandise. They’re dedicated to growing carbon-free processes and merchandise by 2045, main the transformation of the iron and metal trade. Since 1890 LKAB has developed by way of distinctive improvements and technological options and are pushed ahead by greater than 4,500 staff in 12 international locations. In 2021, the LKAB group had gross sales of about SEK 49 billion.
