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LKAB is investing billions underground

  
Photos: LKAB

LKAB is a high technology mineral group and one of Sweden’s most important export companies. Strong global demand for iron ore has driven LKAB to invest heavily in increased production. In the five years since 2005 the company has invested SEK 22 billion above ground and underground, among other things in new processing plants and measures to improve logistics.

In connection with the construction of the MK3 pelletizing plant in Malmberget and the KK4 pelletizing plant and its associated concentration plant KA3, LKAB’s pellet capacity increased by 7.5 million tonnes per year. New, more powerful electric locomotives and bigger ore wagons mean that 60 per cent more ore can be transported along the ore railway in each train. The construction of the new SILA harbour storage facility in Narvik increases ore offloading capacity from 16 to 19 million tons.

“Over the next five years LKAB will invest SEK 5 billion per year, primarily in new main galleries in the mines at Kiruna and Malmberget. In order for Kiruna to grow with its customers and deliver sufficient volumes, three new open cast mines are planned for Gruvberget, Leveäniemi and Mertainen. The objective is to increase production to 37 million tonnes of iron ore per year by 2015 at the latest,” says Per-Erik Lindvall, LKABs Technical and Business Development Director.

LKAB’s current investments also include a new research centre in Malmberget that will support LKAB’s commitment to customers – Performance in Ironmaking. AggloLab will develop LKAB’s already world-beating expertise in pellet production and blast furnace processes by multi-disciplinary research with a focus on agglomeration – the production of pellets – itself.