European battery materials company Talga (ASX:TLG) has secured an environmental permit at its Nunasvaara South natural graphite mine located within the Vittangi Anode Project in Northern Sweden.
The company reports the approval was handed down by the Swedish Land and Environment Court yesterday (5 April 2023), and included the grant to Talga of a Natura 2000 permit.
Talga says the decision is subject to a 3-week period when appeals can be lodged, and notes the environmental permit was granted with conditions in line with the company’s Detailed Feasibility Study and permit application.
“This key approval is a significant achievement, and a major step in Talga establishing its Swedish natural graphite anode production”
Commenting on the permit approval, Talga Managing Director, Mark Thompson says: “This key approval is a significant achievement, and a major step in Talga establishing its Swedish natural graphite anode production.
The approval is the culmination of extensive technical, environmental, and social studies over many years and has followed a highly rigorous permitting process.
We look forward to continued engagement with all stakeholders as we progress towards mining this strategic resource for use in sustainable European battery production.”
Following this environmental permitting decision and Natura 2000 permit grant, Talga esports the Swedish Mining Inspectorate is expected to make a decision on the Nunasvaara South exploitation concession application. The company also notes remaining local approvals are currently progressing.
The Nunasvaara South graphite mine is designed to feed Talga’s planned 19,500 tonnes per annum (tpa) battery anode manufacturing plant (refinery), which is progressing through a separate permitting process.
Talga reports Luleå Municipality has granted the refinery building permits, which entered into force on 24 March 2023, and notes the court has scheduled a 3-day environmental permit hearing for 3 May 2023.
The company says a positive outcome and approval of an execution order will allow it to begin early works at the refinery site in the Luleå Industrial Park potentially at the start of H2 2023.
Talga also says it is currently in advanced negotiations with a range of European battery makers, including previously announced ACC and Verkor regarding supply agreements for its graphite anode products.
Meanwhile, the company is in discussions with multiple European Union (EU) and commercial financial instructions regarding finance for the Vittangi Anode Project.
Talga is a European battery materials company focused on building a supply chain of products critical to the green transition. The company’s portfolio of projects includes the Vittangi, Jalkunen, and Raitajärvi Graphite projects in Sweden. Across these projects, the company is developing a suite of battery anodes for use in lithium-ion batteries.
Images: Talga Group Ltd
