Fortum Declared Big Expansion of Battery Recycling Capacity

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Finland-based state-controlled utility company Fortum announced that it plans to make significant investment to expand its lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery recycling capacity.

The estimated investment of approximately $28.7 million will be towards building a new state-of-the-art hydro-metallurgical recycling plant in Harjavalta, Finland. It must be noted that the company is running an industrial-scale pilot plant at the site. The new facility will employ a combination of mechanical and low-carbon dioxide hydrometallurgical technologies to recycle batteries, thus ensuring lowest carbon footprint.

According to company press release, the new facility is expected to begin operations in 2023. Once completed, it will be the largest facility of its kind in the entire European region. It is expected to create nearly 30 jobs in the near future. The new facility will process old electric vehicle lithium-ion batteries to recover scarce metals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt and manganese. Furthermore, it will recycle waste derived through the battery supply chain, said Kalle Saarimaa, Vice President, Fortum Recycling & Waste.

The black mass containing critical metals, generated at its Ikaalinen plany as a result of disassembly of lithium-ion batteries, will be collected and transported to Harjavalta plant for hydrometallurgical processing.

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