Örnsköldsvik municipal councilor Anna-Britta Åkerlind (C), Cinis Fertilizers CEO Jakob Liedberg and We Constructions CEO Jonas Lindéndug the first hole for construction on Köpmanholmen in mid-January.
In mid-January, Cinis Fertilizer was granted planning permission for its 2.7-hectare site in Bergsbyn, located opposite Northvolt's factory in Skellefteå. However, the company is not ready to disclose any forecasts regarding the timeline for groundbreaking or production.
– At the moment, we are unable to provide any information. The environmental permitting process is a factor that needs to be considered. As a listed company, we will share new information every quarter, says Anders Antonsson, the communications manager.
The Skellefteå project is not the first on Cinis Fertilizer's list. The company is currently focused on its inaugural factory in Köpmanholmen, Örnsköldsvik, where groundwork is set to commence after receiving the necessary approvals in January. In March, the company will engage in environmental permitting discussions in the Land and Environmental Court.
– It's great that there will be a comprehensive process in Örnsköldsvik. We expect to benefit from this in future projects," says Antonsson.
The company anticipates a construction period of one year for the Köpmanholmen factory, which will produce 100,000 tons of fossil-free potassium sulfate (SOP) annually. The Skellefteå factory will produce 200,000 tonnes and employ approximately 50 workers.
Residual products become green fertilizer and salt in Cinis Fertilizer's process.
Cinis Fertilizer has plans to build 4-6 factories within the next decade. However, the locations of future projects have yet to be determined.
–It's likely, we will build them in the Northern Nordic region. The prerequisites are inexpensive electricity and a port to facilitate product shipping, says Antonsson.
The company's production process is based on utilizing residual products, primarily from electric car battery production, resulting in a minimal climate footprint. Collaborating with Dutch fertilizer manufacturer Van Iperen, Cinis Fertilizer intends to sell mineral fertilizer (NPK) products. NPK refers to nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, the three essential nutrients. Van Iperen has already committed to purchasing production from the first two Cinis Fertilizer factories.
Potassium sulfate is to be manufactured in Skellefteå.
Both LKAB and Spanish fertilizer giant Fertiberia are planning major projects in Luleå. Fertiberia intends to build a factory for producing green ammonia and fertilizer on Hertsöfältet in Luleå.
Meanwhile, LKAB will take advantage of mining waste in its industrial park, Reemap on Svartön in Luleå, to produce, among other things, phosphorus. It is unclear what product LKAB will sell, but the company wants to get as close as possible to finished fertilizers.
However, Cinis Fertilizer is not afraid of competition.
–These are different products, so we are not competitors. On the contrary, we think it's good to have more fertilizer manufacturers. Russia and Belarus have had 30% of the world market, and with the sanctions imposed due to the war in Ukraine, there is room for more players. In addition, agriculture wants to increase yields compared to before, which further increases interest in the products, says Antonsson.
Residual products from Northvolt's production of electric car batteries are the basis of Cinis Fertilizers
Why have all these investments in fossil-free fertilizers come at the same time and to the same region?
– I cannot answer that. But a low electricity price is a prerequisite. And for us, Northvolt's factory in Skellefteå was a prerequisite.
According to Antonsson, the factories in Örnsköldsvik and Skellefteå will not handle any explosive substances.
- There will be no emissions either to land, air or water. We have the water in a closed circuit. The transport from the factory to the port will take place by truck.
