500 new jobs when LKAB extracts critical minerals

The Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfvén visited Luleå and the ongoing industrial projects in the region. During the visit LKAB:s Senior Vice President, Business Area Special Products, Leif Boström, disclosed that LKAB:s investment in extracting phosphorus and rare elements will create more than 500 jobs.

- 500 jobs, they just keep coming! Imagine that a few years ago they said that the industry would soon be gone. Now Sweden is leading the climate change. The whole world is watching Sweden and the Luleå, Boden and Skellefteå region, Prime Minister Stefan Löfvén said during the presentations of LKAB:s plans.

LKAB plans to extract apatite concentrate from the residual products of iron ore mining and further process that to phosphorus mineral fertiliser, and in the process also extract rare earth elements, fluorine and gypsum.

- We don’t have to operate a dedicated mine; that is the strength of the circular business model where we get the phosphorus and rare earth elements as a bonus from the iron ore mining. But it requires innovative processing and value-added beneficiation to take steps forward in the value chain, says Leif Boström.

For LKAB, this will mean major investments but also new products and markets. In direct connection to the mines in Kiruna and Malmberget, two apatite plants will be built.