Mytilineos joins EU’s SCALE project
Athens-listed group Mytilineos on Wednesday announced its participation as a coordinator in the European Union’s SCALE project, with a pilot plant for the extraction of scandium from bauxite.
Scandium is one of the rare earth elements (REEs) and is on the EU list of critical raw materials.
The Greek bauxite processed by Mytilineos is proportionally rich in scandium, and correspondingly produces bauxite residues that are rich in scandium.
The pilot plant for extracting scandium under the SCALE project launched operations a year ago at the Aluminium of Greece plant in Viotia.
Using an innovative method, the project has managed to increase the concentration of scandium from bauxite residues by 2,500 times.
Scandium is essential for many technologies – including critical ones – such as state-of-the-art and high-performance power generation plants, ultra-efficient lasers, and extremely durable and lightweight aluminum alloys for aerospace applications.