Finnish mining company Keliber has begun lithium extraction at its Syväjärvi open-pit mine in western Finland, marking a key step in Europe’s efforts to secure domestic supplies of critical battery materials.
The project, located near Kaustinen in the Kokkola region, is expected to produce about 15,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate annually. The operation aims to establish a fully Finnish supply chain for lithium used in electric vehicle batteries and other energy storage technologies.
Keliber’s development faced financial uncertainty after it was first announced in 2022, but investment from South Africa-based Sibanye-Stillwater helped advance the project. The state-owned Finnish Minerals Group also holds a significant stake. The mine is expected to create around 350 jobs in the region.
Operations officially began on Feb. 11, 2026, when the first spodumene-bearing rock was blasted from the site. “Sibanye-Stillwater is proud to announce that the Syväjärvi mine at our Keliber lithium project in Finland officially began operations,” the company said, noting that the opening detonation was carried out under the supervision of mine manager Sari Koivisto.
Lithium deposits in the area were discovered more than six decades ago, but commercial development became viable only as demand surged with the growth of electric vehicles. Rising prices in recent years prompted renewed interest in European sources, although lithium markets have since experienced volatility.
The extracted ore will be processed at the nearby Päiväneva plant before being transported to a refinery in Kokkola to produce lithium hydroxide monohydrate, a key component for cathode materials. The finished product can then be exported via the region’s seaport on the Gulf of Bothnia.
Industry analysts view the project as strategically important for Europe, which currently depends heavily on imported lithium chemicals. New battery material facilities are also emerging across the continent, including a cathode plant under construction in Kotka and other factories in Germany, Poland, and Hungary.
The launch comes as several European lithium initiatives face uncertainty. A major project in Serbia’s Jadar Valley, led by Rio Tinto, remains on hold, while alternative extraction methods—such as geothermal brine processing pursued by Vulcan Energy in Germany—are still under development.