Polar Lithium, a joint venture between Russia’s Nornickel and Rosatom Group, has secured a collaboration agreement with Beijing-based MMC International Incorporation Ltd to advance the Kolmozerskoye lithium deposit in the Murmansk Region, Nornickel announced on Tuesday.
Under this partnership, MMC will assist Polar Lithium in analyzing the ore properties at Kolmozerskoye and developing the technology necessary for processing and producing lithium products. MMC, known for its expertise in designing mining and processing complexes, will leverage its technology to aid in the development of the deposit.
At Kolmozerskoye, MMC will evaluate ore characteristics, design equipment for processing plants, and set up chemical metallurgical production facilities. This collaboration is expected to accelerate the establishment of a high-tech battery industry in Russia, enabling a faster transition from deposit development to full-scale lithium production.
Polar Lithium aims to build and launch the mine, processing plant, and chemical metallurgical plant in the Murmansk Region by 2030. The venture targets annual production of 2 million tonnes of ore and 45,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate and hydroxide.
The Kolmozerskoye deposit, the largest and most promising lithium resource in Russia, holds 18.9% of the country’s reserves, including 75 million tonnes of ore. It also contains forecast reserves of 152,600 tonnes of lithium oxide, 1,215 tonnes of tantalum pentoxide, and 1,485 tonnes of niobium pentoxide.
Despite the growing global demand for lithium, Russia currently does not mine or produce lithium. The new project is set to address this gap and bolster Russia’s capabilities in the lithium sector.
