Sibanye-Stillwater, a multinational precious metal mining group led by South African businessman Neal Froneman, has obtained a crucial environmental permit for its multimillion-dollar Keliber lithium project in Finland.
The permit secured for the company’s recently acquired lithium project opens up a pathway for the creation of a state-of-the-art facility that will address the surging demand for lithium in the booming European battery market.
Sibanye-Stillwater CEO Neal Froneman expressed his excitement regarding the receipt of the crucial environmental permit. He stated: “We are pleased to have received this key environmental permit soon after being granted approval for the Keliber lithium refinery in Kokkola.”
Froneman added that the facility is gearing up for the highly anticipated construction phase, set to commence in the next few weeks. This marks a milestone in the company’s journey, as it embarks on this exciting construction phase.
Sibanye-Stillwater is a multinational precious metal mining company with operations in South Africa. It is involved in gold and base metal mining, as well as projects in South Africa and the Americas.
Froneman, who played a key role in Sibanye-Stillwater’s growth into one of the world’s leading primary producers of platinum, palladium, and gold, holds a 0.074-percent stake in the precious metal mining group.
Nearly three months ago, Sibanye-Stillwater gave the green light to an investment of €588 million ($616.2 million) to broaden the horizons of its Keliber lithium project located in Finland
This strategic move, in line with the company’s ambition to establish itself as a prominent player in the thriving European battery metals industry, follows the acquisition of a substantial stake in Keliber, bringing its ownership in the Finnish mining and battery chemical manufacturer to nearly 85 percent.
Froneman said at the time that the company’s capital investment initiative will kick off with the building of a cutting-edge lithium hydroxide refinery in Kokkola Industrial Park, Finland.
The logistics center will serve as the gateway for the company to penetrate the European battery market and solidify its position as a leading provider of premium battery metals.
