Valmet to deliver an automation system to Sibanye-Stillwater’s Keliber lithium refinery in Kokkola, Finland

Valmet Oyj’s trade press release on April 19, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. EEST

Valmet will deliver a Valmet DNA automation system to a lithium project run by Sibanye-Stillwater’s subsidiary Keliber in Kokkola, Finland.

The order is included in Valmet’s orders received of the first quarter 2023. The construction of the lithium refinery has started in March 2023.

“Battery chemicals are an interesting process area and there is a lot of future potential. Automation plays an important role in process reliability, usability and performance. We are happy that Keliber trusted us and chose Valmet DNA as their main automation system,” says Arto Mäkinen, Sales Manager, Automation Systems, Valmet.

“Valmet DNA automation system fits perfectly to the demanding new industry of battery chemical production. The technical capability of the distributed control systems and Valmet’s digital services meet our expectations for this type of novel and demanding process exceptionally well. With the modern user interface and high usability of the system the production targets can be achieved. Additionally, Valmet can support our long-term operations, sustainability, and efficiency targets by offering optimization and simulation opportunities as well as local and remote support from Valmet customer service,” says Juha Kerttula, Electrical and Automation Manager of Keliber.

3D photo of the lithium refinery in Kokkola, Finland (by Birgitta Hjelm-Luontola/Sweco)

Technical information about the delivery

Valmet’s delivery includes the Valmet DNA User Interface with a redundant system. The delivered fieldbuses are set up with Valmet I/O. Motors are delivered through Profinet and substation protection relays through IEC61850.

Valmet will deliver a virtualized solution for Windows workstation, as well as condition monitoring, a field device manager, a Valmet DNA historian, a separate demo system, an application simulation system and a training simulator interface.

To ensure proper running of the operations, user training is included in the project scope.

About the customer Keliber Oy

Keliber is an advanced lithium project that aims to be the first European producer of battery-grade lithium hydroxide from its own mined ore reserves. Keliber is a subsidiary of Sibanye-Stillwater, a multinational mining and metals processing Group. Keliber’s second largest shareholder is Finnish Minerals Group, a state-owned company developing the value chain of lithium-ion batteries.

VALMET
Corporate Communications

For further information, please contact:
Juha-Pekka Jalkanen, Director Process Automation, Automation Systems, Valmet, tel. +358 50 344 7464

Valmet is a leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. With our automation systems and flow control solutions we serve an even wider base of process industries. Our 17,500 professionals around the world work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers’ performance forward – every day.

The company has over 220 years of industrial history and a strong track record in continuous improvement and renewal. In 2022, a major milestone was achieved when the flow control company Neles was merged into Valmet. Valmet’s net sales in 2022 were approximately EUR 5.1 billion.

Valmet’s shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki and the head office is in Espoo, Finland.   

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