Russian government greenlights Arctic CAM facility
The Russian government approved a cathode active materials (CAM) facility in the Arctic. This facility will produce cathode materials, a mixture of lithium, nickel, manganese, and cobalt, essential for lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles.
The decision to base production at the Kola Mining and Metallurgical Company, a subsidiary of the one of the world’s largest battery materials supplier Nornickel, leverages the existing infrastructure and resources, including nickel and cobalt, required for CAM production. This project has received formal support from the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade, underscoring its national significance.
The cathode materials produced at the Arctic facility will supply Russia’s nuclear corporation Rosatom's gigafactory in Kaliningrad, the semi-exclave on the Baltic Sea, which is poised to manufacture lithium-ion batteries with an annual capacity of 4 GWh. The factory is intended to produce batteries for vehicle manufacturers and power grid companies, helping to meet the growing demand for sustainable energy solutions.
The CAM facility initiative is part of a broader strategy linked to the development of the Kolmozerskoye deposit in the Murmansk Region, jointly managed by Nornickel and Rosatom. By 2030, the site is expected to house a mine, enrichment plant, and a chemical and metallurgical plant, collectively producing about 2 million tons of ore annually. This output will yield 45,000 tons of lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide, essential components for battery production.
In a pivotal development, Nornickel and Rosatom's joint venture, Polar Lithium, signed an agreement with China's MCC International. This partnership aims to develop ore beneficiation technology for the Kolmozerskoye deposit, create a processing scheme for the concentrate, and conduct equipment performance calculations, setting the stage for advanced materials production.
