Boliden plans to repurpose waste concentrate for new sulfuric acid plant in Kokkola

Boliden Kokkola plans to repurpose 400,000 tons of previously designated waste concentrate to be used as a raw material for sulfuric acid in a potential new factory within the Kokkolan industrial area. This initiative could extend the landfill’s lifecycle by approximately ten years, while also having the potential to increase zinc plant production capacity by 10%.

CEO Vesa Törölä emphasizes the significance of the project from a circular economy perspective, noting that few similar projects focus on recycling already stored waste into usable materials. The new sulfuric acid plant could produce 330,000 megawatt-hours of carbon-free energy annually, meeting Kokko’s district heating needs for 2023.

The most substantial environmental impact of the scheme appears to be on air quality in the factory area, although emissions are projected to remain below regulatory limits. The concentrate was stored on-site in the early 2000s when the technology did not allow for its utilization. However, advancements now make it feasible.

Boliden is currently seeking environmental permits to expand its waste area, which is already 40 meters high and nearing its capacity. Alternatives to a new sulfuric acid plant include utilizing the concentrate within existing facilities in Kokkola or sending it to an external company for processing.

Boliden is assessing four options for handling the concentrate, two of which involve constructing a new sulfuric acid plant. This facility would generate additional carbon-free energy and double Boliden’s sulfuric acid production to 730,000 tons per year.

The environmental assessment report is open for public comment before moving to the permitting phase. The investment, contingent on the approval of an environmental license, could reach hundreds of millions of euros, depending on how the concentrate is processed.