Nornickel announced the expansion of its Finnish nickel refinery Harjavalta with nickel output increasing by 10,000mt to 75,000mt per annum in 2023 and by over 100,000mt per annum by 2026.
Harjavalta’s expansion is mainly attributed to the increasing demand for battery raw material in the European market. The refinery produces nickel in cathodes, briquettes, crystallized salts and solutions and uses a high-tech approach for an extraction rate of up to 98pc.
Currently, the refinery is powered by renewable energy and has the lowest carbon footprint in the industry; it stated. This expansion will place the company as one of the most sustainable nickel producers for EV batteries in Europe that recycles close to 90pc of the waste produced during the manufacturing process.