Kemira has signed a 2-year delivery contract to supply sulphuric acid to Talvivaara project. The parties have not disclosed the exact value of the contract, but it is in some millions of euros. The deliveries will take place at first by trucks from Kemira’s Kokkola site and later, starting in the summer of 2009, by rail. The recovery of metals at Talvivaara is due to begin in the last quarter of 2008. In addition to nickel, the mine will also yield zinc, copper, and cobalt.
The central objective at the Talvivaara deposit is to exploit the two polymetallic deposits in Sotkamo, at Kuusilampi and Kolmisoppi. Talvivaara's key technology is bioheapleaching, which is utilized to extract metals from the ore. The technology enables cost effective and environmentally friendly exploitation of the resource using locally occurring bacteria.
The production process involves using sulfuric acid for controlling the acidity of the bacterial solution, which catalyses the dissolving of the metals. The leaching process is strongly heat generating and therefore suitable for the sub-arctic climatic conditions of Eastern Finland.
Talvivaara aims to become a globally significant producer of certain common metals, and one that focuses primarily on the production of nickel and zinc. The Talvivaara deposits comprise one of the largest known sulphide nickel resources in Europe. The mineral reserves there amount to more than 500 million tons of mineral reserves and they will suffice for at least 25 years. The production is due to begin at the end of 2008.
Talvivaara has concluded a 10-year sales contract with Norilsk Nickel for its entire nickel and cobalt production. The majority of the metallic nickel to be consumed in industry will go into the production of stainless and acid-resistant steel.
Additional information:
Talvivaara project
Director Renê Basilier, rene.basilier@talvivaara.com
Tel. +358 (0)20 7129 800, Mobile +358 (0)50 591 6739
Kemira Pulp&Paper
SBU Additives
Vice President Mikael Kvist, Marketing, mikael.kvist@kemira.com
Tel. +358 (0)10 862 7210, Mobile +358 (0)500 365724
SBU Pulp Chemicals
General Manager, Sales, Tuomo Keskinen, tuomo.keskinen@kemira.com
Tel. +358 (0)10 862 1644, Mobile +358 (0)50 387 1661