Strategic partnerships for sustainable battery materials production

The work includes an integrated supply chain for the long-term sustainable supply of critical raw materials for Europe.

Strategic developments in the commercialisation of eLNO – Johnson Matthey’s portfolio of nickel rich advanced cathode materials –have been announced by the company.

A partnership with Finnish Minerals Group will support development of the organisation’s second commercial plant, in Vassa, Finland, powered solely by renewable energy and incorporating an innovative effluent treatment solution.

Finnish Minerals Group will invest in two key areas. Firstly, to co-develop an integrated solution to treat sodium sulphate, a common manufacturing by-product, providing a sustainable supply chain to conserve natural resources and protect the local environment. Secondly, Finnish Minerals Group will invest in pre-treatment technology of nickel and cobalt sulphates to tailor the materials to the requirements of high nickel cathode materials.

‘Our long-term goal is to create increasingly sustainable solutions for mining and battery material industries. The strategic partnership agreement we have now signed with Johnson Matthey, a British listed company, opens up an opportunity for us to continue the development of critical auxiliary processes of battery materials production at industrial scale,” says Matti Hietanen, CEO of Finnish Minerals Group.

In addition, a term sheet has been signed with Nornickel, for the supply of nickel and cobalt, from Nornickel’s metal refineries in Harjavalta, Finland and in the Kola region, Russia.

An agreement for the supply of lithium hydroxide from SQM from its Salar del Carmen plant in Antofagasta, Chile.