References/11 Jan 2024

Borenius successfully represented Keliber in upholding its Rapasaari mining permit at the Vaasa Administrative Court

We provided counsel to Keliber in an administrative court proceeding regarding an appeal lodged by an environmental NGO against the Rapasaari mining permit. The appeal was ultimately overturned, and the decision of the Vaasa Administrative Court remained unchallenged.

The Rapasaari permit is integral to Sibanye-Stillwater’s Keliber lithium project as Keliber plans to initiate mining operations at its Syväjärvi and Rapasaari sites, feeding ore to its Päiväneva concentrator.

In addition to its mines and concentrator, Keliber is in the process of building a chemical plant at the Kokkola Industrial Park, which is scheduled to be commissioned in 2025. This plant is a key component of Keliber’s plan to become the first integrated high-purity lithium operation, producing lithium hydroxide chemicals from its own hard rock lithium ore reserves. The projected annual production of around 15,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate is expected to cater to the expanding international lithium battery market for a minimum of 16 years.

Keliber is a subsidiary of Sibanye-Stillwater, a mining and metals processing group with a diverse portfolio of operations, projects, and investments across five continents. Its shares are listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange.

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Service areas

Team

Casper Herler

Partner

Helsinki

Niklas Vartiainen

Counsel

Helsinki

Jussi Airaksinen

Senior Associate

Helsinki