SURFACE

LKAB, Talga partner on Vittangi graphite mine

Talga plans to establish a European supply of emission anode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Vittangi has a total JORC resource of 16.9Mt

Vittangi has a total JORC resource of 16.9Mt

Talga is currently the 100% owner of the Vittangi graphite project and proprietary technology for anode battery production, but the letter states that after a feasibility study to be completed by March 2021, the parties will further negotiate ownership and investments.

The project forms part of Talga's plans to establish a European supply of emission anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. The firm's development plan includes the construction of a scalable production facility with an initial production capacity of 19,000 t/yr coated anode.

Located approximately 20km east of LKAB's iron ore mine and railhead at Svappavaara, the Vittangi graphite project has a total JORC resource of 16.9Mt at 25.6% graphite, according to Talga's website. The company claims this is the highest resource grade of any JORC/NI 43-101 graphite deposit in the world.

LKAB said the investment was part of its strategy to reduce the company's reliance on iron ore.

"Growth within the industrial minerals market is a strategic activity to reduce dependence on the iron ore market which today accounts for around 90% of the external sales", said the company in a statement.

"Talga, with its proximity to LKAB's existing mining operations in Northern Sweden, may offer synergies with resources, skills and infrastructure. There are also potential commercial synergies with sales and distribution, including the developments in the ReeMAP project that will produce both phosphorus and rare earth elements through recycling mine waste".

LKAB plans to build a 50-hectare industrial centre that will use fossil-free processes to recycle tailings from LKAB's iron ore production into phosphorus products and rare earth elements. The planned LKAB site will host the company's "ReeMAP" tailings recycling project, with a pre-study scheduled for completion in 2021 and full production to start in 2027.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Magazine Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Magazine Intelligence team.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Exploration Report 2024 (feat. Opaxe data)

A comprehensive review of exploration trends and technologies, highlighting the best intercepts and discoveries and the latest initial resource estimates.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Future Fleets Report 2024

The report paints a picture of the equipment landscape and includes detailed profiles of mines that are employing these fleets

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Digitalisation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations that use digitalisation technology to drive improvements across all areas of mining production

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Automation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations using autonomous solutions in every region and sector, including analysis of the factors driving investment decisions