LKAB is now laying the foundation for the new sorting plant at the mine in Malmberget, Gällivare – marking an important milestone in securing the company’s continued operations. The new facility will enable stable production, increased volumes, and the handling of apatite for the future production of rare earth elements and phosphorus.
The current sorting plant was commissioned in 1953 and has long been constrained by both its age and limited space. A new sorting plant is now taking shape, designed and adapted to meet the needs of today and tomorrow.
“LKAB has significant mineral resources and plays a central role in Swedish and European industry. Our strength is not only about where we stand today, but also about our ability to continue developing and making sound decisions that strengthen our operations over time. The new sorting plant is one such decision. It lays the foundation for stable and competitive production far into the future, for LKAB, for Malmberget, and for the continued development of northern Sweden,” says Johan Menckel, President and CEO of LKAB.
New sorting plant at the mine in Malmberget, Gällivare
In the sorting process, the ore is crushed, screened, and magnetically separated, a crucial first step before the crude ore is sent for beneficiation and transformed into fines and pellet products. The new plant is being designed for a total capacity of 25 million tonnes of crude ore per year, representing an increase of approximately 7 to 8 million tonnes annually compared with current capacity.
The facility is also being prepared to handle apatite-rich tailings for the future extraction of apatite, which will be used in LKAB’s planned production of phosphorus and rare earth elements in Luleå.
In September 2025, LKAB’s Board decided to invest SEK 6 billion in the construction of the new sorting plant. When it becomes operational in 2028, it will be one of the largest facilities in LKAB’s history. With a volume of 620,000 cubic metres, the building symbolizes the extensive investments being made to secure continued production and develop LKAB’s future operations