Production/Operations
The domestic refined nickel output in January dropped 1.5% on the month and increased 37.24% on the year to 16,400 mt. According to SMM research, mainstream refined nickel enterprises worked in shift during the CNY holiday to ensure normal production. Therefore, the output did not drop sharply in January.
Preliminary estimates show that global mine nickel production increased by 21% to 3,300 thousand tonnes in 2022. Production in Indonesia, the world’s largest nickel producing country, increased by 54% y-o-y to 1,600 thousand tonnes in 2022.
Getting nickel going again (fastmarkets)
Confidence in the contract was decimated when unprecedented volatility led the exchange to suspend it and cancel nickel trades in March 2022. The exchange has since implemented a series of measures to maintain market order, including the promotion of greater over-the-counter (OTC) transparency for the market.
Nimy Resources (NIM) continues to close in on highly valuable nickel sulphides, with the latest exploration results confirming several targets and identifying new ones. The results of the company’s latest soil sampling program outline numerous anomalies across Mons.
Race of the EVs: Nickel-rich Indonesia plans to become major battery maker, woos Tesla investment (Firstpost)
Indonesia has the largest nickel reserves in the world. As a result, Indonesia plans on becoming a major hub for EV manufacturers and EV batteries. The country is also wooing Tesla and Elon Musk to set up factories in the country.
Resource Mining Corporation lands licensing green light for Tanzanian nickel exploration (Investing.com)
Resource Mining Corporation Ltd (ASX:RMI) has been awarded four exploration permits by the United Republic of Tanzania’s Ministry of Minerals Mining Commission, covering key nickel prospects in Tanzania previously explored by BHP/Albidon.
Zeb Nickel says it has identified higher-grade nickel zone at Zebediela project (Proactiveinvestors)
Zeb Nickel (TSX-V:ZBNI, OTC:ZBNIF) Corp said an analysis of deeper holes drilled at the Zebediela project in South Africa has shown a higher-grade nickel mineralized zone at the base of the historical resource estimate.
A closer look at the worldwide nickel production paints a dramatic picture. Even if the figures of the U.S. Geological Survey suggest otherwise at first glance. The world has a nickel problem, with one exception. A US court upholds the Trump administration’s steel tariffs. And US HRC prices are rising by more than 25%.
Nickel miner PT Vale Indonesia broke ground on a 37.5 trillion rupiah ($2.48 billion) ferronickel smelter Sulawesi island on Friday, an Indonesian senior minister said. The Bahodopi project will produce ferronickel with 73,000 to 80,000 tonnes of nickel content per year, Vale has said.
Murchison Minerals Ltd. (“Murchison” or the “Company”) (TSXV:MUR)(OTCQB:MURMF) is pleased to announce assay results from the diamond drillholes completed at the Syrah Target as part of the 2022 Summer Exploration Program on the 100% – owned HPM (Haut-Plateau de la Manicouagan) Project, located in Quebec.
Canada Silver Cobalt releases cobalt-nickel assays of 11% and 4% respectively from concentrate of Castle Mine waste rock (Proactiveinvestors)
Canada Silver Cobalt Works Inc (TSX-V:CCW, OTCQB:CCWOF) announced that it has completed re-processing waste rock material for battery minerals from its Castle Mine in Gowganda, Ontario, with assays revealing up to 11.8% cobalt and 4.4% nickel content.
Palladium One Mining Inc.: Palladium One Expands West Pickle High-Grade Nickel Zone to 600 Meters, Tyko Nickel – Copper Project, Canada (Finanznachrichten.de)
Palladium One Mining is pleased to report the expansion of and additional high-grade drillhole intercepts from the West Pickle Zone massive sulphide discovery on the Tyko Nickel – Copper Project, in Ontario, Canada.
Tartisan Nickel Corp.: Environmental Baseline Studies Enter Fourth Phase at the Kenbridge Nickel Project, Northwestern Ontario (Newsfile Corp)
Tartisan Nickel Corp. (CSE: TN) (OTCQX: TTSRF) (FSE: 8TA) (“Tartisan”, or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that three phases of environmental baseline studies have been completed, and that “Phase 4” (winter/spring 2023) environmental baseline studies will be conducted at the Kenbridge Nickel Project, Kenora Mining District, Northwestern Ontario.
Horizonte Minerals awards mining services contract to Fagundes for nickel project (Global Mining Review)
Horizonte Minerals Plc has announced that it has entered into a five-year mining services agreement, thereby securing services for mining, stock pile generation, plant feeding and slag handling activities for its 100%-owned Araguaia Nickel project in Brazil, where construction is underway and first production remains on track to commence in 1Q24.
EV Nickel Inc.: EV Nickel – Final Assays for CarLang A Zone- Reports 297.5 metres of 0.28% Ni. The A Zone Represents 20% of the Prosepective Trend (Finanznachrichten.de)
EV NICKEL INC. is excited to announce the assay results, from the final 5 drill holes of the Phase 3 Drilling program, completed over the Large-Scale nickel target in the northeast of its Shaw Dome Project, referred to as the Carman-Langmuir or, “CarLang Area”
Dynamic Metals off to a great start in 2023 by completing drill program at Dordie Far West nickel prospect (Proactiveinvestors)
Dynamic Metals Ltd (ASX:DYM) is off to a great start in the new year by completing its first drill program since listing on the ASX last month. Five reverse circulation (RC) holes were drilled for a total of 736 metres at the Dordie Far West nickel prospect within the Widgiemooltha Lithium-Nickel-Gold Project in Western Australia.
Western Mines hits nickel and eyes new system (The West Australian)
Thin section microscope work by Western Mines Group has confirmed abundant pentlandite nickel mineralisation from a fresh diamond drill hole at its Mulga Tank ultramafic hosted nickel project in WA. The company says the work shows evidence of an extensive magmatic nickel sulphide system within the ultramafic complex.
Nordic Nickel (ASX:NNL) reveals ‘exciting start’ to drilling at Pulju project, Finland (The Market Herald)
Nordic Nickel (NNL) has completed drilling the first hole of its maiden program at its flagship Pulju nickel project in Finland. Drilling at the project in the Central Lapland Greenstone Belt of Northern Finland began at the start of this year and the next two drill holes are in progress.
Class 1 Nickel and Technologies Ltd. (CSE: NICO/OTCQB: NICLF) (“Class 1 Nickel” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the completion of 40 drill holes (16,510m) on its Somanike Nickel-Copper Project (‘Somanike), located near Val-d’Or, Quebec (Canada). Assays are pending for all drill holes and are expected in Q1 2023.
Fathom Nickel (CSE:FNI) has announced that the Gochager Lake Exploration Permit has been received, and field crews are mobilizing to begin the Q12023 exploration program at the project. The company will begin drilling on or around February 10 at the Gochager Lake Project, which is host to disseminated massive sulphide nickel-copper-cobalt mineralization.
Merger/Acquisitions
GM Looks to Deepen Mining Ties With Stake in Brazil’s Vale (The Wall Street Journal)
General Motors Co. GM -0.67%decrease; red down pointing triangle has discussed taking a small stake in Brazilian miner Vale SA’s VALE -1.19%decrease; red down pointing triangle base metals unit, a business that mines and processes nickel and other metals crucial to building electric vehicle batteries, according to people familiar with the matter.
Anglo American Plc (AAL.L) will buy a 9.9% stake in Canada Nickel Co Inc (CNC.V), the owner of the Crawford nickel project in Ontario, in its bid to expand production of the niche metal, the London-listed miner said on Wednesday.
Investment
Indonesia is courting Tesla Inc to invest in the country, which has become a key player in the electric vehicle industrythanks to its rich nickel reserves. In just three years, Indonesia has signed more than a dozen deals worth more than $15 billion for battery materials and electric vehicle production
Taxation
Russian mining giant Nornickel (GMKN.MM) said on Friday its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell 17% year-on-year in 2022 to $8.7 billion, as it grappled with a drop in sales and supply chain disruption.
Vendor/ Supplier Related
Jervois Global Limited announces Jervois Switzerland, the commercial arm of Jervois, has entered into a raw material supply agreement with Traxys Europe S.A. for the supply of mixed hydroxide product for the restart phase of the São Miguel Paulista nickel cobalt refinery in Brazil , which is expected to restart at the end of Q1 2024.
Exports/ Imports
Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corp. announced it had paid penalties to the national government for loading nickel ores onto a carrier ship without the necessary documents. In a disclosure sent to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Wednesday, Nickel Asia Corp. said its subsidiary paid a penalty of P100,000 to the BOC.
Earnings/ Financial Results
MMC Norilsk Nickel: Nornickel reports full year 2022 audited consolidated IFRS financial results (Finanznachrichten.de)
PJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel the world’s largest palladium and high-grade nickel and a major producer of platinum and copper, reports audited consolidated IFRS financial results for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Government/Regulatory
Commodity trader Trafigura Group is facing more than half a billion dollars in losses after discovering metal cargoes it bought didn’t contain the nickel they were supposed to. Trafigura has spent the past two months uncovering what it believes is a systematic fraud against it.
News Stories
Production/Operations
The joint venture of GEK Terna and AD Holdings, officially declared last week as the preferred investor for mining company Larco’s mines and factory, has a 250-million-euro business plan aimed at gradually increasing the production of ferro-nickel and nickel sulfate to 20,000 tons per year.
The competition to produce raw materials for electric vehicle batteries is taking a potentially dangerous turn as suppliers pursue expensive expansion efforts amid softening markets for critical commodities such as lithium and nickel.
Visualized: The EV Mineral Shortage (Visual Capitalist)
Visualized: The EV Mineral Shortage
Errawarra Resources (ASX:ERW) targets nickel sulphides in maiden drilling, WA (The Market Herald)
Errawarra Resources (ERW) has started a maiden drill program targeting nickel sulphides at its Andover West project in Western Australia. The maiden drilling effort will test three priority targets announced on December 9, 2022.
Nickel has been produced from two very different ores, sulfidic and lateritic. The origin of lateritic ore is mainly in tropical countries such as Indonesia and is mined from several depths below the surface, while sulfidic ore is generally discovered jointly with copper ore and is mined underground.
South Africa’s growth prospects have been dimmed further as the output of both the mining and manufacturing industries – two of key sectors in South Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP) – contracted significantly in 2022.
With a massive increase in mining imminent for the transition minerals required for global decarbonisation, African countries should not to fall into the same value traps as they did previously, where communities were left out of the benefits, the Mining Indaba heard yesterday.
Minnesota Copper Mine Was No Panacea for Battery Production (The Wall Street Journal)
Opening the area near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northeast Minnesota to copper mining wouldn’t be a game changer (Biden’s Green-Energy Mineral Lockup, Review & Outlook, Jan. 30). The proposed Twin Metals mine is the only project meaningfully affected by the 20-year moratorium.
Auric Mining off to an energetic start with RC programs at Chalice West and Miitel South targets (Proactiveinvestors)
Auric Mining Ltd (ASX:AWJ) is off to an energetic start’ this year with its reverse circulation (RC) drill programs at Chalice West and Miitel South Projects in Western Australia. At Chalice West, the company’s RC program is underway to test the recently generated gold and nickel targets from its air core program at the project.
On February 6, Chengtun Mining Group said that the high nickel matte project of PT.ChengMach Nickel Indonesia is currently undergoing land leveling, drawing design and other related work. The project, with a designed annual production capacity of 40,000 mt in Ni content, is expected to be completed and put into operation in the fourth quarter of this year.
Artisanal cobalt mining swallowing city in Democratic Republic of the Congo, satellite imagery shows (ABC News)
As officials around the world call for a transition to a greener economy, one city is being transformed to accommodate the growing demand for one important mineral: cobalt. The Democratic Republic of the Congo produces an estimated 70% of the world’s cobalt, and most of it comes from the city of Kolwezi.
Industrial output, measured in volume, decreased by 4,1 percent from 2021 to 2022, according to data by Murmanskstat, the regional branch of Russia’s statistics service. B-port was first to report the figures.
In Response: Mining opponents refuse to accept we need more mining (Duluth News Tribune)
In her Jan. 25 column in the News Tribune, Lynn Anderson of the Tamarack Water Alliance attempted to convince Minnesotans that the high-grade nickel deposit discovered in the deep bedrock of Aitkin County by Talon Metals is actually not needed in the energy transition.
Maximus Resources works towards goal of becoming long-term gold producer in WA’s premier gold and nickel mining district (Investing.com)
Maximus Resources Ltd (ASX:MXR) (FRA:M5F) has proclaimed it will take significant steps towards becoming a long-term gold producer in 2021 after a transformative 2020. The company has 48 square kilometres of granted mining licences in the fertile Spargoville Shear Zone, which hosts the historic, high-grade Wattle Dam Gold Mine.
Double down on mining (The Ely Echo)
For the second time in as many weeks, Ely’s city council requested the Biden Administration rescind recent action that effectively kills the Twin Metals Minnesota copper-nickel mining project. But this time there was an audience.
Nevada battery recycler wins $2B loan from Energy Department (Star Advertiser)
A Nevada company that recycles batteries for electric vehicles has won a $2 billion green energy loan from the Biden administration. Redwood Materials, a recycling venture founded by the former chief technology officer at Tesla Inc., secured the conditional loan from the Energy Department’s Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing program
DRC to begin new nickel, chrome exploration in the next few days (ROUGH POLISHED)
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is expected to begin exploration for nickel and chrome in the southern diamond-rich Kasai region in the next few days, according to the country’s president.
Test results have indicated that the nickel concentrate from Lifezone Metals Kabanga nickel project, in Tanzania, is amenable to processing using the company’s proprietary hydrometallurgical (hydromet) technology, with pressure oxidation (Pox) leach extractions for non-optimised test results equal to or more than 98.5% nickel.
Americana icons Nickel Creek have announced that they will hit the road this spring, embarking on the group’s first tour since 2014. The extensive national run will follow the March 24 release of Celebrants the band’s fifth studio project and first new album in nine years and will include stops across the U.S. as well as several festival appearances.
Nickel still crucial for EV batteries: Industry players (The Jakarta Post)
Indonesian manufacturers are confident about the future of nickel as material input crucial for producing electric vehicle batteries, despite the increasing popularity of batteries made using lithium iron phosphate (LFP). LFP batteries, which do not contain either cobalt or nickel
Trafigura Group is briefing lenders that none of its banks have direct exposure to the nickel deals at the center of what the commodity trader is calling a systematic fraud perpetrated against it. Trafigura has recorded a $577 million impairment after discovering that metal cargoes it bought didn’t contain the nickel they were supposed to
Armed with the world’s largest reserves of nickel and a ban on the export of nickel ore, Indonesia is making itself indispensable for the electric vehicle industry, which uses the metal extensively.In just three years, Indonesia has signed more than a dozen deals worth more than $15 billion for battery and electric vehicle production in the country with manufacturers
‘First mover’ in a large unexplored vanadium district in Argentina (Innovation News Network)
NewEra Metal Resources Limited, a private UK-registered natural resources company (No: 10262618), is Argentina’s leading vanadium exploration company with 30 strategically-located exploration licences covering ten project areas, including concessions at, adjacent, or proximal to former mine sites in the Neuquen Basin of central Argentina.
Shebandowan gold belt could host ‘big mine’ potential (Northern Ontario Business)
The Shebandowan area, west of Thunder Bay, is shaping up to be an emerging gold camp. Senior executives from three exploration companies working in the area Goldshore Resources, Thunder Gold and Kesselrun Resources participated in a Feb. 8 online panel discussions hosted by 6ix.com on why this northwestern Ontario greenstone belt deserves more attention.
Positive results for battery and precious metal exploration (Innovation News Network)
Conico Ltd discusses the importance of battery metals, and its ongoing exploration in Greenland and Australia. Conico Ltd is a mineral resource exploration company, targeting battery and precious metals vital for industry development and the world’s clean technology transition.
New BASF mining solutions VP to focus on innovative chemistry potential (International Mining)
Caren Hoffman has been appointed VP of BASF’s global mining solutions business, effective January 1, 2023. The business, which she now leads, focuses on the development and marketing of innovative chemistries and digital applications that offer sustainable solutions for the mineral processing industry.
Aruma sprinting through lithium field race (Mining Journal)
Nearly sixty years ago, Mt Deans in Western Australia flickered briefly into life as a tin mine, turning out 7.18 tonnes of the metal between 1965 and 1967. Now it is Aruma’s lead project but this time it’s all about lithium and rubidium, cesium, potassium, tantalum and of course tin.
Infinity Mining gets licence extension at Pilbara multi-mineral project (The West Australian)
WA-focused explorer Infinity Mining has been granted a five-year extension for an exploration licence that constitutes the largest component of its Hillside project that lies over the Coongan Greenstone Belt in Western Australia’s Pilbara.
ZERO Automotive brings newest ZED70 Ti BEV to IGO’s Nova project (International Mining)
ZERO Automotive has delivered what it refers to as an ultra-safe ZED70 Ti battery-electric converted utility vehicle, using LTO battery technology that does not suffer from thermal runaway, to Independence Group’s Nova nickel-copper-cobalt operation in Western Australia.
America’s EV Ambitions Need a Graphite Plan. Fast. (The Washington Post)
America’s EV Ambitions Need a Graphite Plan. Fast
China mining giant China Molybdenum (CMOC) announced an optimistic cobalt production guidance for 2023 while Glencore, the other leading cobalt miner, lowered its cobalt output guidance this year. The two cobalt giants are taking different approaches at a time when cobalt prices keep falling, nearing the historical lows witnessed in 2019
Transocean’s Drillship to be Used for Deep-Sea Mineral Exploration (OFFSHORE ENGINEER)
GSR is the deep-sea mineral exploratory company engaged in the development and exploration of deep-sea polymetallic nodules that contain metals critical to the growing renewable energy market, and is a developer of nodule collection technology.
The role of automated sampling and analysis in mining (International Mining)
A high demand for commodities gives producers and manufacturers both opportunity and motivation to become more efficient, pragmatic and automated, Evident Scientific* says. With the high prices comes shorter contracts with specifications that can change from week to week. This gives miners and recyclers an added challenge in streamlining their operations.
Mining company eyes Warren and Union (Village Soup)
A Canadian-based company plans to meet with the select boards of Warren and Union to discuss the firm’s interest in mining in those communities. Exiro Minerals of Toronto, Canada, through its wholly-owned Delaware subsidiary Wintergreen Resources, LLC, has leased with options to own the mineral rights formerly held by Knox Nickel.
Graphite the great lithium battery enabler (The West Australian)
Lithium stole the spotlight last year as demand for electric vehicles ballooned, yet a critical component of lithium-ion batteries, graphite, has been mostly overlooked. Without graphite a lithium battery simply won’t work and there is no real substitute. With a graphite supply and demand squeeze now on the horizon
Green Hydrogen: Technology Breakthroughs Mean Iridium Shortage and High Prices will Ease in 2023 Rystad Energy (Hydrogen Central)
Green hydrogen: technology breakthroughs mean iridium shortage and high prices will ease in 2023 Rystad Energy. If 2022 turbocharged the green hydrogen economy, then 2023 is the start of a long slog for this nascent sector that is set to be the backbone for decarbonization, transition and energy security strategies.
Vietnam’s largest conglomerate backs Alliance Nickel’s major NiWest development with new MoU (Stockhead)
Alliance Nickel will sell nickel and cobalt sulphate from its proposed NiWest project in WA to Vietnam’s largest private conglomerate in a major boost to its future development. VinES Energy Solutions, a subsidiary of South East Asian corporate giant Vingroup
Pricing
Japan’s Sumitomo Metal Mining on Wednesday increased its forecasts for full-year net profit and dividend thanks to stronger-than-expected prices of nickel, copper and gold. Net profit is now predicted at 158 billion yen ($1.2 billion) for the year to March 31, up 15% from its November guidance of 137 billion yen
On the supply side, the spot imports of pure nickel gained profits yesterday. SMM believes that imported nickel plates will flow into the market this week and next week. The quotations offered by some NPI factories and traders dropped somewhat.
Investment
Canada Nickel Company Inc. (“Canada Nickel” or the “Company”) (TSXV: CNC) (OTCQX: CNIKF) is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into a Subscription Agreement with Anglo American today to make an approximately $24 million investment in Canada Nickel at a price of $1.95 per Common Share, a 10% premium to the 30-day volume weighted average price (“VWAP”).
Decarbonization can’t happen without more investment in mining projects: Indaba Panel (Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide)
The metals industry has failed to address the impending undersupply of critical minerals arising from the global energy transition, according to speakers at the Investing in Africa Mining Indaba in Cape Town on Feb. 7.
Brazil’s miners to invest US$50bn through 2027 (BNamericas)
The combined capex of Brazil’s mining firms is set to reach US$50bn in 2023-27, up from US$40.4bn in 2022-26, according to the country’s mining association Ibram. Ibram unveiled the forecasts at a press conference on Tuesday.
Government/Regulatory
The world’s largest zinc smelter is betting on electric car batteries and clean energy to help decarbonize its fossil fuel-driven metals refining business and hopes US President Joe Biden’s landmark climate bill will create opportunities rather than obstacles.
Altai Philippines Mining Corp. said Monday that it is stopping its “exploration and testing activities” in Sibuyan Island, Romblon that prompted residents to put up a barricade to register their opposition to mining.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources ordered the mining company whose operations are being opposed by the residents of Sibuyan Island, to stop the construction of a causeway and the transportation of nickel ore.
‘We are not afraid’: Locals in biodiversity-rich Philippine island fight back against nickel mine (Eco-Business)
Jhay Romero, a 40-year-old father of four, held on tightly to his neighbours as he joined their barricade to stop police who were trying to disperse them on Friday in the town of España, Sibuyan Island, Romblon in the Philippines, where they live.
Nickel, lithium key ingredients to Auroch’s battery minerals focus (Mining Journal)
Approved by the board at an extraordinary general meeting of Auroch in early February, the name change has been lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and approval is expected soon. uroch technical director obin ox Auroch technical director, Robin Cox
Council condemns mineral withdrawal (The Timberjay)
It was standing room only at the city council meeting here on Tuesday as residents on both sides of the long-simmering copper-nickel mining debate weighed in on the council’s expected response to the recently-approved 20-year mineral withdrawal, a federal decision that puts the planned Twin Metals proposal on life support.
Earnings/ Financial Results
Sherritt International (TSX: S), a world leader in the mining and hydrometallurgical refining of nickel and cobalt from lateritic ores, yesterday reported net earnings from continuing operations of C$63.7 million in 2022, compared to a net loss from continuing operations of C$13.4 million in 2021.
Human Resources/ Employees Related
When 20-year-old Nirwana Selle got a phone call to work as a crane operator in 2021, the Indonesian vocational school graduate was elated. She had waited months for a job after graduation and was excited to finally start her career. But she didn’t know the job would lead her to TikTok stardom and then her tragic death.
Carmakers have committed tens of billions of dollars to dramatically boost the production of batteries for electric vehicles in the U.S., including Tesla’s recent plan to triple lithium-ion cell output at its sprawling plant near Reno, Nevada.
Promotional Offers/ Discounts
Australian mining companies flock to Asia as higher commodity prices and improved relations fuel interest (small caps)
High commodity prices, improved working conditions, and better government relations, are attracting Australian mining companies back to Asia with a number of success stories helping repair past damage. Nickel Industries (ASX: NIC) is the star of the show, teaming up with one of China’s biggest steel makers to produce nickel
Investor Relations
ASX Today: Wall Street loses gains; nickel, ore rally (The Market Herald)
The share market faces early pressure after Wall Street failed to hold early gains amid ongoing concerns about the outlook for interest rates. The S&P/ASX 200 will open 26 points or 0.35 per cent lower, according to futures action. The Australian benchmark is on track for its first losing week of 2023 after falling in three of the last four sessions.
The UK, The BOJ, ETFs, and Nickel (Bloomberg)
Jennifer Lee, Senior Economist at BMO Capital Markets, joins the program to discuss the Bank of Japan news, the UK narrowly avoiding a recession, and what it means for their central banks. Aneeka Gupta, Director of Macroeconomic Research at WisdomTree, joins the show to discuss the Fed’s rate hike path and global economic activity.
Business Expansion
Murmansk to expand lithium mining, eyes battery production (The Barents Observer)
According to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, test production at the Polmostundra field will be launched in the course of 2023. Project developers TD Khalmek and KHMS this year intend to extract up to 1,000 tons with subsequent processing at a facility operated by KHMS, the high-ranking official says.
DRC to expand exploration, mining of metals for green-energy transition (The North Africa Post)
Exploration for nickel and chrome will begin in the next few days in DR Congo’s southern, diamond-rich Kasai region, Congo’s president has said, adding that his country wants to position itself as a key source of the two strategically important metals in the green energy transition.
Vendor/ Supplier Related
Indonesia has become the world’s second-largest cobalt producer, bolstering its bid to be a big player in the electric-vehicle supply chain. Production of the battery material in the Southeast Asian country surged past others including Russia and Australia to grab the No. 2 spot last year
Uncertainties in base, precious metals supply amid Ukraine situation present opportunities for Africa (Mining Weekly)
The ongoing war in Ukraine and ensuing sanctions imposed on Russia (the most extensive in world history), have resulted in spasms in the oil and natural gas markets, driving well-documented disruptions to energy supplies, as well as agricultural resources.
It is a well-established fact that the Philippines is ranked as the fifth most mineralized country in the world with untapped reserves estimated at $1 trillion dollars nearly three times the country’s GDP in 2021. In terms of global prospectivity, the Philippines ranks third in gold, fourth in copper, fifth in nickel, and sixth in chromite.
Nickel may need time to recharge its batteries (bluenotes)
With the electric vehicle (EV) revolution gaining pace, tightness in nickel used specifically in batteries has led to an explosion in nickel projects. Indonesia is gearing up to be an integral part of the battery supply chain and the use of laterite ore to feed the battery sector could bring structural change in the nickel market this year.
In 2023, the global cobalt market is prone to slip into a supply surplus, with supply growth outpacing demand expansion. The refined cobalt prices thus will show a downward trend. On the supply side, multiple new projects will be launched to ramp up the capacity, including projects owned by Glencore and China Molybdenum as well as the Indonesian Nickel and Cobalt Project.
Merger/Acquisitions
Sibanye-Stillwater (SSWJ.J) is not interested in gold mergers and acquisitions, CEO Neal Froneman said on Monday, after Newmont’s $16.9 billion bid for Newcrest increased the pressure on gold miners to consolidate.
Ormonde Mining acquires stake in Peak Nickel (MarketScreener)
Ormonde Mining acquires stake in Peak Nickel
Environment/ Climate
Tecnicas Reunidas leading MINETHIC project aiming to recover critical minerals from mining by-products & urban waste (International Mining)
Tecnicas Reunidas says it will lead from its Jose Lladó Technology Centre the development of a research project of great strategic importance for Europe: the recovery of minerals and metals considered as critical raw materials (CPM), key for the technology sector and the ecological transition.
Tailings and related waste (TheNational)
Before proceeding into details of tailings let us take a look at how mines are developed, from exploration to the end of a mine’s lifespan. Mining for gold, copper, nickel or any other mineral and oil and gas development activities encompasses any number of activities relating to the development and operation of the mine.
The Transitional 10: Critical metals of clean energy (Livewire Markets)
The world is rapidly embracing clean technologies like electric vehicles (EVs), battery energy storage systems, hydrogen fuel cells, wind power systems, and solar power systems. Core to the manufacturing and performance of these technologies are 10 key disruptive minerals and materials, listed in the table below.
Business Partnership
Italy has become the latest country to join the U.S.-led Mineral Security Partnership that promotes ethical mining. The U.S. Undersecretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, Jose Fernandez, made the announcement while attending the Investing in African Mining Indaba, or conference.
African Mining Indaba 2023 Schneider Electric emphasises industry partnership in meeting critical minerals and metals demand (Engineering News)
The Mining, Minerals, and Metals (MMM) industries clean energy transition will require the quadrupling of mineral requirements for (clean energy) technologies by 2040, says a report by the IEA. Speaking at the African Mining Indaba, held at the CTICC in Cape Town, Rob Moffitt, president of MMM at Schneider Electric emphasised that the supply of critical minerals
Taxation
Mexico’s tax authority SAT urged a second group of large taxpayers in the mining and metal producing sectors, including steel companies, to voluntarily supplement their 2020 and 2021 tax contributions if the rates were lower than the authority’s effective ones.
Fund Raising/Grants
Australia needs 50 new lithium mines, 60 new nickel mines and 17 new cobalt mines to meet soaring global demand for green technology, and the minerals lobby group The Minerals Council of Australia is asking for help to do it saying it’s about the race to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Rawbank Sarl forecast its lending to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s mining industry will jump more than 20% to over $1 billion this year, buoyed by rising demand and strong prices for the country’s strategic minerals.
Exports/ Imports
The political fracturing of the aluminum market looks set to intensify as the United States mulls imposing penal tariffs of up to 200% on imports of Russian metal. Russian producers of industrial metals such as aluminum and nickel have largely evaded the official sanctions net since the invasion of Ukraine.
Studies/Surveys
New method addresses lifespan decline in manganese-based high-energy cathode materials (Tech Xplore)
Currently, most cathode materials used in batteries for electric vehicles are layered oxides composed of nickel for over 60% of the transition metals. Using nickel-rich layered oxide is advantageous in establishing the mileage of an electric vehicle due to its high energy density, but its usage is limited by instability in the supply and demand of nickel raw materials.
NASA Rover Encounters Spectacular Metal Meteorite on Mars (ScienceAlert)
MSL Curiosity is going about its business exploring Mars. The high-tech rover is currently exploring the sulphate-bearing unit on Mt. Sharp, the central peak in Mars’ Gale Crater. Serendipity placed a metal meteorite in its path.
Opinion/Feature/Trends
Production/Operations
Opinion: Pristine wilderness finally gets protection from mining (Washington Times Herald)
The country is in need of cobalt, manganese, nickel and other minerals to build batteries and other components of a clean energy infrastructure. But the obvious benefits of moving away from fossil fuels doesn’t mean mining of needed minerals should be allowed anywhere.
Business Expansion
Democrats and Republicans want to expand mining in the United States, but can they agree on how? (MSN)
With the United States dependent on China’s mining sector to produce electric vehicles and other technology, Republicans and Democrats alike have found a rare moment of bipartisan agreement around expanding the nation’s production of critical minerals such as lithium and copper.
Studies/Surveys
Opinion | NASA’s Mission to Psyche, a $10 Quintillion Asteroid (The New York Times)
Opinion | NASA’s Mission to Psyche, a $10 Quintillion Asteroid
This year has already brought some unusual setbacks for mining companies, thanks to the Biden administration. On January 26, the administration dealt a possibly fatal blow to Twin Metal Minnesota’s decades-long effort to reopen a nickel and copper mine near the Boundary Waters, the most visited wilderness area in the country.
Press Release
Production/Operations
Azimut Exploration Inc. (“Azimut” or the “Company”) (TSXV: AZM) (OTCQX: AZMTF) is pleased to announce the start of a 3,000-line-kilometre helicopter-borne high-resolution magnetic and VTEMTM Plus electromagnetic survey to cover the entire Kukamas Copper-Gold Property (the “Property”) located in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region
Bluejay Mining plc (‘Bluejay’ or the ‘Company’), the AIM, FSE-listed and OTCQB traded exploration and development company, is pleased to provide an update on the 100% owned Kangerluarsuk zinc-lead-silver project (‘Kangerluarsuk’ or the ‘Project’) in Central West Greenland.
EnerDel Announces the Completion of A-Sample Design Phase of Their Next Gen Battery Packs iEGO (Yahoo Finance)
EnerDel, a leading Li-ion battery pack manufacturer, completed the first phase of their next generation family of battery packs, iEGO. EnerDel’s engineering team designed and procured the components to build the first iEGO 800V battery packs, leveraging NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) VDA modules as the building block.
Nornickel-Rosatom JV Secures License to Develop Lithium Deposit in Russia
Rimfire Pacific Mining Looks Into Nickel-Cobalt-Scandium Recoveries at Melrose Prospect (MarketScreener)
Rimfire Pacific Mining Looks Into Nickel-Cobalt-Scandium Recoveries at Melrose Prospect
Orford Mining Corporation (“Orford”) (TSXV: ORM) is pleased to report that it has completed an extensive review of geochemical data both on its properties and in the area surrounding its Qiqavik Gold property and West Raglan Nickel Copper PGM property
Visser Precision Purchases Two Sapphire Printers From Velo3D to Expand its Additive Manufacturing Capabilities for Aerospace Customers (Business Wire)
Velo3D, Inc. (NYSE: VLD), a leading metal additive manufacturing technology company for mission-critical parts, today announced Visser Precision, a contract manufacturer serving major industries from the racetrack to outer space, has purchased and received two Sapphire printers to expand its 3D-printing capabilities for its aerospace customers.
Two worlds, one material (EurekAlert)
Until now, it has been clear: you can have a metal or a plastic, but not both in one. However, things don’t have to stay that way. In the journal Angewandte Chemie, a Chinese research team has now reported a polymer with a metallic backbone that is conductive, thermally stable, and has interesting optoelectronic properties.
EV NICKEL INC. (TSX-V: EVNI) (“EVNi” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has begun the Phase 4 drilling campaign, back at the High-Grade W4 Zone forming part of its Shaw Dome Project
Sabre Resources Hits High-Grade Nickel Equivalent Mineralization at Sherlock Bay Project; Shares Slide 7% (MarketScreener)
Sabre Resources Hits High-Grade Nickel Equivalent Mineralization at Sherlock Bay Project; Shares Slide 7%
SKY GOLD CORP. (“Sky” or the “Company”) (SKYG-TSX:V)(OTC PINK:SRKZF) announces the acquisition of 3 nickel-copper-cobalt-platinum group element properties, situated in the Shebandowan Greenstone Belt, in northwestern Ontario. The properties are located proximal and in a similar geologic setting as to that of the past-producing Shebandowan
Green River Gold Corp. (CSE: CCR) (OTC Pink: CCRRF) (the “Company” or “Green River”) is pleased to provide the following assay results for Zone 2 of the Quesnel Nickel Project. The Company has received assay results for hole WK-22-07 drilled to a depth of 93.3 meters in Zone 2 of the Deep Purple target.
What is happening? The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (the Agency) is conducting an impact assessment for the proposed Crawford Nickel Project, located 43 kilometres north of Timmins, Ontario. As part of the planning phase in the impact assessment process, the Agency invites the public and Indigenous groups to review and provide feedback on the draft Tailored Impact
Lundin Mining Corporation (“Lundin Mining” or the “Company”) today reported its Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimates effective as at December 31, 2022 (or otherwise specified herein). On a consolidated and attributable basis, estimated contained metal in the Proven and Probable Mineral Reserve categories total 7,760 kt (17.1 Blb) of copper, 2,541 kt (5.6 Blb) of zinc
Investor Relations
Canada Nickel Announces C$20 Million Bought Deal Public Offering and Concurrent Private Placement (Edmonton Journal)
Canada Nickel Company Inc. is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Scotiabank to act as lead underwriter and sole bookrunner on behalf of a syndicate of underwriters pursuant to which the Underwriters have agreed to purchase for resale
Kuniko Confirms High-Grade Base Metal Mineralization at Norway Nickel Deposit; Shares Jump 20% (MarketScreener)
Kuniko Confirms High-Grade Base Metal Mineralization at Norway Nickel Deposit; Shares Jump 20%
Business Partnership
Aperam & Econick have formed a JV called Botanickel to become a world leader in the responsible and sustainable production of biosourced nickel for the stainless steel industry.
Management Change
Nickel 28 Capital Corp. today publicly responds to an unsolicited, non-biding and self-serving proposal received from a shareholder of the Company. He joins the Board as a strong independent voice. Among other things, Lance brings with him a deep understanding of both the capital markets and commodities markets
Event/Conference/Seminar
Nickel 28 to Participate in BMO’s Global Metals, Mining & Critical Minerals Conference and PDAC Convention (Business Wire)
Nickel 28 Capital Corp., one of Canada’s only pure-play nickel and cobalt producers, today announced its participation in the following investment conferences: We look forward to the coming conference season and meeting with our current and future shareholders
Earnings/ Financial Results
Shares in Aperam SA fell Friday after the company said financing costs mainly driven by unrealized results on nickel derivatives erased its fourth-quarter net profit. The Luxembourg-based steel producer also said customers offloading stock and fears of recession hurt demand and dragged down earnings.
Blogs and Forums
Investor Relations
Own BHP shares Here’s what the market expects from its half year results (The Motley Fool)
BHP is scheduled to release its half year results on 21 February The market is expecting another bumper profit One broker suspects that BHP could fall a touch short of the market’s expectations BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares will be in focus this month.
Job Postings
Investor Relations
Chief Executive Officer – MD | MPI (Mining Monthly)
Our client, Auroch Minerals, is a successful ASX listed company focused on the exploration and development of critical battery minerals, namely nickel sulphide and lithium in tier 1 mining jurisdictions.
Snippet
Investor Relations
Power Nickel Inc. (TSX-V: PNPN)(OTCQB:CMETF) (The Wall Street Analyzer)
Stock/Shares
Environment/ Climate
Pricing
Journal
Studies/Surveys
Towards stable nickel catalysts for selective hydrogenation of biomass-based BHMF into THFDM (Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering)
Selective transformation of BHMF (2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan) to THFDM (tetrahydrofuran-2,5-dimethanol) over a variety of structured Ni/Sx-Z1-x catalysts was investigated. The effects of support, Ni loading, solvent, temperature, pressure, and particle size on the conversion and selectivity were studied.
Rapid synthesis of nickel-copper phosphate electrode by microwave-assisted hydrothermal reaction for supercapattery (Journal of Energy Storage)
This study reports the fabrication of binder-free nickel-copper phosphate (NCP) battery-type electrode via microwave-assisted hydrothermal method for the first time. This fabrication method involved microwave heating which significantly reduced the reaction time compared to the conventional hydrothermal method.
Electrochemical sensing platform based on Zeolite/Graphite/Dimethylglyoxime nanocomposite for highly selective and ultrasensitive determination of nickel (Journal of Hazardous Materials)
In this work, the fabrication and analytical application of a novel, unique, mercury-free, and user-friendly voltammetric sensor of Ni(II) based on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with zeolite(MOR)/graphite(G)/dimethylglyoxime(DMG) composite (MOR/G/DMG-GCE)
Ni/Al2O3 catalysts for CO2 methanation: Effect of silica and nickel loading (International Journal of Hydrogen Energy)
Samples containing from 1 to 33 wt.% of NiO on silica and alumina doped with silica (1 and 20 wt.% silica in the support) have been prepared and characterized by BET, XRD, FT-IR, UV-vis-NIR, FE-SEM, EDXS, and TPR techniques. Catalysts have been pre-reduced in situ before catalytic experiments
In-situ monitoring of hydrogen peroxide production at nickel single-atom electrocatalyst (Chemical Engineering Journal)
Electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a common method to address the growing demands of H2O2. To map a clear understanding of structure-activity relationship of electrocatalyst for H2O2 production, it is necessary to real-time quantitative monitor
Patent
Intellectual Property
BASF SE Files European Patent Application for Process for the Preparation of Hexamethylenediamine by Hydrogenation of Adiponitrile in the Presence of Raney Nickel and a Basic Co-Catalyst (European Patent News)
Munich, Feb. 11 — BASF SE has filed a patent application for process for the preparation of hexamethylenediamine by hydrogenation of adiponitrile in the presence of raney nickel and a basic co-catalyst. This invention was developed by Huchede Maxime and Chouzier Sandra.
Munich, Feb. 11 — European Patent Office has received Dow Global Technologies’s patent application for sterically hindered phosphino-urea supported nickel(ii) or palladium(ii) catalysts for the copolymerization of ethylene and polar comonomers. Nett Alex J, Spinney Heather A, Senecal Todd D, Wilson David R, Froese Robert D J and Garza Gonzalez Alejandro J developed the invention.
Dow Global Technologies Applies for Patent on Sterically Hindered Phosphine-Amide Supported Nickel(Ii) or Palladium(Ii) Catalysts for the Copolymerization of Ethylene and Polar Comonomers (European Patent News)
Munich, Feb. 11 — Dow Global Technologies has applied for European patent for sterically hindered phosphine-amide supported nickel(ii) or palladium(ii) catalysts for the copolymerization of ethylene and polar comonomers. Nett Alex J, Spinney Heather A, Senecal Todd D, Wilson David R, Froese Robert D J and Garza Gonzalez Alejandro J developed it.
Linyi Steel Investment Group Stainless Steel Ltd Submits Chinese Patent Application for Tin Heat Preservation Device for High-Temperature Liquid Nickel (China Patent News)
Beijing, Feb. 10 — Linyi Steel Investment Group Stainless Steel Ltd has submitted a patent application for tin heat preservation device for high-temperature liquid nickel. This invention was developed by Yin Xiaoning, Bai Xuekai and Deng Yanchen.
Zhongshan Tongde Photoelectric Science and Tech Limited Submits Patent Application for Multifunctional Nickel Plating Equipment (China Patent News)
Beijing, Feb. 10 — Zhongshan Tongde Photoelectric Science and Tech Limited has submitted a patent application for multifunctional nickel plating equipment. Ou Yijun, Chen Bingzhi, Xu Zhenxiang and Chen Junxian developed the invention.
Beijing, Feb. 10 — State Intellectual Property Office of China has received Jingjiangshun Precision Light Alloy Molding Science and Tech Limited’s patent application for precise die-casting die for nickel-based alloy complex forgings. Huang Zhihong, Huang Yadong and Feng Dan developed the invention.
Beijing, Feb. 10 — State Intellectual Property Office of China has released Weihai Hongwei Metal Composite Mat’s patent application for explosive welding device for nickel-based alloy steel composite plate. This invention was developed by Kou Xiyun.
State Intellectual Property Office of China Publishes Danyang City Longflying Alloy Mat Limited’s Patent Application for Novel Nickel-Chromium Resistance Wire (China Patent News)
Beijing, Feb. 10 — State Intellectual Property Office of China has published Danyang City Longflying Alloy Mat Limited’s patent application for novel nickel-chromium resistance wire. The invention was developed by Huang Fei.
Zhongshan Tongde Photoelectric Science and Tech Limited Applies for Patent on Nickel Plating Equipment Convenient to Move (China Patent News)
Beijing, Feb. 10 — Zhongshan Tongde Photoelectric Science and Tech Limited has applied for Chinese patent for nickel plating equipment convenient to move. Chen Bingzhi, Ou Yijun, Xu Zhenxiang and Zheng Chao developed it.
Seoul, Feb. 9 — Korean Intellectual Property Office has released Research & Business Found Sungkyunkwan Univ’s patent application for electroless plating of palladium and nickel on solder for preventing electrochemical migration. This invention was developed by Jung Seung Boo, Hwang Byeong Uk, Min Kyung Deuk, Lee Chung Jae, Kim Jae Ha, Kang Dong Gil and Jang Jun Ho.
Posregen Seeks Patent for Road Pavement and Repair Method Using Eco-Friendly Concrete Composition Comprising Ferro-Nickel Slag Powder (Korea Patent News)
Seoul, Feb. 9 — Posregen has sought patent for road pavement and repair method using eco-friendly concrete composition comprising ferro-nickel slag powder. This invention was developed by Oh Beom Jin.
Korean Intellectual Property Office Publishes LG Energy Solution’s Patent Application for – Manufacturing Method of High-Nickel Positive Electrode Active Material (Korea Patent News)
Seoul, Feb. 9 — Korean Intellectual Property Office has published LG Energy Solution’s patent application for – manufacturing method of high-nickel positive electrode active material. The invention was developed by Kwon Ji Yoon, Jung Kyung Hwan, Han Dong Hoon, Park Sung Woo, Nam Sung Gwang, Yoo Su Bin and Kim Dong Myung.
Alexandria, Feb. 8 — U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has published Jingmen Gem’s patent application for preparation method for high nickel ternary precursor capable of preferential growth of crystal planes by adjusting and controlling addition amount of seed crystals. The invention was developed by Xu Kaihua, Jiang Zhenkang, Tang Zhou, Li Tao, Du Xiuping, Bai Liang, Zhang Hua, Wu Zhijiang and Jiang Shifeng.
BASF SE Applies for Patent on Processes and Systems for Producing a Nickel Sulfate Product (WIPO Patent News)
Geneva, Feb. 6 — BASF SE has applied for WIPO patent for processes and systems for producing a nickel sulfate product. Pichlmair Stefan, Boehling Ralf, Frischhut Sabine and Smith Vincent developed it.
Geneva, Feb. 6 — Guangdong Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd, Hunan Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd and Hunan Brunp Ev Recycling have submitted a patent application for method for extracting nickel from high matte nickel leaching residue. This invention was developed by Yu Haijun, Xie Yinghao, Li Aixia, Zhang Xuemei and Li Changdong.
Geneva, Feb. 6 — Guangdong Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd, Hunan Brunp Recycling Tech Co Ltd and Hunan Brunp Ev Recycling have filed a patent application for method for leaching and extracting valuable metal and sulfur element from low nickel matte. This invention was developed by Yu Haijun, Xie Yinghao, Li Aixia, Zhang Xuemei and Li Changdong.