LKAB (Luossavaara‑Kiirunavaara AB) is a Swedish state‑owned mining and minerals company headquartered in northern Sweden. The group is one of Europe’s leading producers of upgraded iron ore, mining in the Kiruna and Malmberget orefields and processing ore into high‑grade pellets and fines for the steel industry. Logistics are integrated via rail links to the ports of Luleå (Sweden) and Narvik (Norway).
For the chemical and materials value chain, LKAB produces industrial minerals and is developing processes to recover critical raw materials—including rare earth elements, phosphorus and fluorine—from existing mining streams and by‑products. These initiatives aim to increase European supply security while improving resource efficiency and reducing waste. The company also supports decarbonization of iron and steel through technology development and partnerships focused on low‑carbon feedstocks and circular production.
Customers include steelmakers and industrial manufacturers in Europe and globally, with products used in steel production, fertilizers, and specialty applications. LKAB operates under strict environmental and permitting frameworks typical for mining and processing in the Nordic region.
chemXplore tracks 5 projects involving LKAB, of which 4 are active.
LKAB's role on them: Owner, Investor / Financier, Operator, and Developer.
3 new construction and 1 expansion.
1 of the active projects carry no start-up date yet.
Contractors, licensors, and offtakers are recorded on 3 of these 4 projects For subscribers
Targeting: Phosphorus (2), Calcium sulfate (1), Hydrogen (1)
Luleå industrial park will recover phosphorus and rare earths from iron ore output to bolster European supply security; demo plant starts soon and ~500 jobs expected.
New facility adds ~7–8 Mt/y capacity, prepares for apatite handling for phosphorus and rare-earth plans, backed by SEK 6bn investment and due in 2028.
Stable production and deliveries but lower sales and operating profit due to USD hedging losses and higher energy, maintenance and urban transformation costs; two key permits granted.
Court allows continued and expanded mining and processing in Malmberget, including a demo fossil-free sponge iron plant and an apatite processing line for Luleå supply.
Plan enables extraction of phosphorus and all 17 rare earths from iron‑ore residues; demo plant nearing operation; supports EU supply security, regional jobs; full investment pending tests.
New sorting plant due 2028 replaces 1950s facility; capacity 24 Mt magnetite + 1 Mt hematite/yr; modern crushing, screening and magnetic separation; 27,000 m², peak 350 workers.
Q1 net sales MSEK 7,907 (9,622); operating profit MSEK 860 (3,638). Weaker USD, lower pellet premiums and higher energy, plus transport and mine issues reduced volumes; ~2 Mt 2026 shortfall
Installation underway at demo facility; building complete, commissioning autumn. Malmberget pilot tests the chain. Tech will extract phosphorus and 17 REEs from iron‑ore residues; permits ongoing.
By country, the most active first. active / all projects
